NATO STATION “IDGZ” [IT]

Exploration #110 NATO station IDGZ. We are in the middle of the Cold War. Everybody is spying. The NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) base, called in code “IDGZ”, was built for this very purpose at the Maniva, Dosso dei Galli. This station, which operated from 1969 to 1995, was connected in the north, in Troposcatter, to the German station of Feldberg by jumping with the Troposcatter signal over Switzerland, while in the south it was connected in microwave with the station of Monte Giogo.

The NATO station IDGZ was a central node in the chain of maximum security military radio communications between Europe and America. The signals also included 5 encrypted telephone channels used exclusively by the military leadership and the American President, called Hot Lines. The communication chain started from Turkey, the last bulwark of NATO placed in the espionage of the transmission of the former USSR and its satellite states, and passing through Greece, Italy, Germany, Norway, Greenland and Canada finally reached the United States. Almost all transmissions were carried out in Troposcatter signal, a transmission that used the troposphere as a vehicle for radio waves and avoided physical obstacles such as the Alps. This technology required the enormous Mickey Mouse ear antennas.

The base was built with thick reinforced concrete walls, was surrounded by barbed wire and was constantly watched over by soldiers and carabinieri from an armored garret on the roof. In addition, the military personnel of the Genio Trasmissioni were stationed on a flat time for the operation and maintenance of the equipment. During the winter months the station was isolated for a few weeks and supplies were carried out by Italian Army helicopters or snowcats. Technical note for the most engineers: the station was equipped with an innovative no-break system consisting of an electric motor-fly-dynamon which was constantly running and which would allow the operation of the electrical equipment for a few seconds (maximum 20 seconds) thus allowing the ignition of the powerful diesel alternators in case of power failure from the valley.

The end of the Cold War and the obsolescence of Troposcatter transmissions led to the closure of the base and the entire communication line. The base was emptied of all equipment by the military and then abandoned. Today it is now part of the panorama of the splendid valley and its “Mickey Mouse ears” antennas are still visible miles away.