"The Key Messenger" and reconstruction of a secret WW2 radio station

Original building, Switzerland

Ludwig Combrinck ZS5CN has taken on quite an interesting project - dual projects, in fact.

First of all, he is in the process of writing a book about a secret radio station set in WW2-era Switzerland. The book will be fictional but with tidbits of actual events being the inspiration behind many of the scenarios.

The book "describes the activities (and excursions) of the operators of a small covert radio station active in Switzerland during and after WW2 as part of the activities of the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) and other allied agencies."

And "The story sketches alternative scenarios to many historical events."

As if writing the book weren't enough, Ludwig is building a replica station of his book's subject. According to Ludwig the original radio station was located near Luven Switzerland and was used to both relay traffic to the SOE in the UK and to spread disinformation to the Nazis by periodically posing as either Allied or Axis radio operators and sending bogus information.

Despite the fact that we know Switzerland to have been neutral during WW2, this neutrality was not

Replica station in South Africa

100% - during the Battle of France, German aircraft violated Swiss airspace at least 197 times. In several air incidents, the Swiss shot down 11 Luftwaffe aircraft between 10 May 1940 and 17 June 1940.

So it is entirely possible that such a station existed with Swiss consent. Regardless, it's a great launching point for a book that doesn't claim to be factual.

In the meantime, Ludwig makes frequent updates to his series of pages that describe his re-creation process and the status of its various aspects, including that of the building itself as well as the radio gear it contains. Interesting reading and a very unique project!

No word yet from Ludwig on when the book(s) may become available.

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