The IFA or Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin (International radio exhibition Berlin) is one of the oldest industrial exhibitions in Germany. Between 1926 and 1939 it was an annual event, but as from 1950 it was organized on a two yearly basis until 2005. Since then it has become an annual event again, held in september. Today it is a world's leading trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances.

It offers the opportunity to exhibitors to present their latest products and developments to the general public. As a result of daily reporting in almost all the German media, the radio exhibition achieves a large spreading of the information - and advertising messages and has also become international. In the course of its history, a large number of world innovations were first seen at the exhibition.

Contents 1 Politics 2 Facts 3 Notes 4 External links

[edit] Politics

In 1933 The Volksempfänger (VE 301 W), a Nazi-sponsored radio receiver design, was introduced (VE=Volksempfänger; 301 = 30th of january; W = Wechselstrom (=alternating current)). Ordered by Dr. Joseph Goebbels, designed by Otto Griessing sold by Gustav Seibt, it was presented at the tenth Berliner Funkausstellung on 18th of August 1933 ^[1], its price fixed at 76 RM. 100,000 units were sold during the exhibition. The importance of radio as a mass medium for the dissemination of propaganda and entertainment throughout Germany had long been clear to Goebbels. In 1938 the DKE 38 followed, the price fixed at 35 RM.

In 1939 the exhibition was called Grosse Deutsche Funk- und Fernseh-Ausstellung (Great German Radio and Television Exhibition). The Einheits-Fernseh-Empfänger E1, a TV set designed to be affordable for everybody, was introduced. The physical display size was 7.68" × 8.86". Plans for large-scale manufacture were thwarted by the outbreak of WWII. Color TV was also introduced (a prototype), based on an invention by Werner Flechsig (cf. shadow mask). Einheitsempfänger

[edit] Facts

• In 2003, IFA was the world's largest Consumer Electronics trade fair, attended by 273,800 visitors. Over 1,000 exhibitors attended the fair.
• 2.4 billion euro of placed orders.
• Attended by over 6,800 accredited journalists from 78 countries.

source: IFA Website

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Goebbel's speech

[edit] External links

• IFA official website
• Highlights of past exhibitions from 1926 to 2005
• IFA Chronicle - multimedia based highlights