Did you know the gov outlawed HAM radio communications in WWII?

Did you know the gov outlawed HAM radio communications in WWII and confiscated radio equipment.

The amateur radio system was shut down entirely during World War 2. Almost every nation rescinded, suspended or cancelled laws and regulations permitting amateur radio, and informed their operator amateurs that they were forbidden to transmit radio signals over the air. Many nations required that radios or significant components be handed over to the government.

https://www.quora.com/What-was-the-global-state-of-ham-radio-during-World-War-II

 

This does not surprise me.

A long while ago I watched a movie about an American recon unit that infiltrated a Nazi occupied area in Europe. The Yanks used the area to install a ham operated communication center that transmitted info re Nazi troop movement. It took a long time but the Nazis found out the location of the radio station and bombed it - but it was too late as the Americans escaped after reporting the location of the Nazi battalion, and air units dropped bombs on the Nazis thereby winning the day.

My understanding is that the fear was that Nazis and their paid traitors would use similar systems to report strategic military installations domestically. As in the movie, it would be very difficult to trace Nazi communication thereby endangering the public. Thus, the government did the smart thing in stopping all such communications.

 

Now why would they go and do a thing like that?

 

Are you an Amateur Radio Operator ?

I am currently licensed as Technician class.