ABSTRACT
The first free radio station surfaced in Czechoslovakia in February 1931, calling on workers to unite against the fascist leaders of Europe. The station, which apparently operated from a mobile transmitter, broke the government’s monopoly on broadcasting and called for a mass mobilization on February 26 in the Czech, German, and Hungarian languages. Czechoslovak authorities responded to the broadcasts by searching for the transmitter in the homes of well-known Communist party members, but never found it. Free radio broadcasting quickly spread throughout the world during the 1930s as a method for reaching citizens with anti-government protest messages. In the midst of the protests a free radio station appeared, broadcasting anti-Machado commentaries and calling upon the Cuban army to join the rebellion. Although the government located the transmitter and arrested its operators, other freedom stations soon appeared.
