Archaeology of The Teufelsberg

Exploring Western Electronic Intelligence Gathering in Cold War Berlin

Wayne D Cocroft author John Schofield author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:19th Mar '19

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Archaeology of The Teufelsberg cover

For over 50 years, the white radomes of the Teufelsberg have been one of Berlin’s most prominent landmarks. For half of this time the city lay over 100 miles behind an 'Iron Curtain' that divided East from West, and was surrounded by communist East Germany and the densest concentration of Warsaw Pact military forces in Europe. From the vantage point high on the Teufelsberg, British and American personnel constantly monitored the electronic emissions from the surrounding military forces, as well as high-level political intelligence. Today, the Teufelsberg stands as a contemporary and spectacular ruin, representing a significant relic of a lost cyber space of Cold War electronic emissions and espionage. Based on archaeological fieldwork and recently declassified documents, this book presents a new history of the Teufelsberg and other Western intelligence gathering sites in Berlin. At a time when intelligence gathering is once more under close scrutiny, when questions are being asked about the intelligence relationship between the United States and Russia, and amidst wider debate about the US’s National Security Agency (NSA) intelligence programmes, sites like the Teufelsberg raise questions that appear both important and timely.

"Through this detailed archaeological investigation of Teufelsberg, one of the most iconic sites of the Cold War, many of its well kept secrets are revealed. The material remains bear witness not only to the facilities housing the cutting-edge technology of a past era, but also give a glimpse of the everyday life of the many men and women that served there. This innovative study clearly shows the potential of contemporary archaeology to uncover hitherto unknown aspects of the recent past and may serve as a blue-print for future studies of secret installations."

Mats Burström, Stockholm University

"An engagingly written and well-illustrated study of an iconic site of twentieth century conflict heritage, and a valuable contribution to the rich literature on the ruins, relics and remains of Berlin. It will be of interest and value to heritage professionals, scholars of espionage and the Cold War, and urban explorers and others fascinated by the material traces of the recent past."

Dr Gabriel Moshenska, UCL Institute of Archaeology

"Visible from afar, the white radomes of the Teufelsberg have always marked the most intriguing Cold War site in Berlin. This book lifts the veil of secrecy that shrouded this installation for decades, takes the reader back in time to the direct confrontation between the West and the East that characterised Berlin, and discusses the many layers of cultural significance embodied in the place."

Professor Leo Schmidt, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus

"The authors have, however, instituted an archaeological investigation of this one-layered site where, for example, floor markings would indicate the possible types of equipment in use in particular rooms. Despite the vandalism the site remains substantially intact and can be ‘read’. Something of a detective story, a fascinating study of an unusual military monument in a dangerous time and in an ultra-sensitive situation."

Bernard Lowry, Casemate

ISBN: 9781138337107

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 510g

162 pages