West German intelligence used Munich Cathedral as a secret listening post

The Catholic church in Bavaria is demanding answers after it emerged that West German intelligence installed a secret listening post in Munich cathedral during the Cold War.

The twin towers of the Frauenkirche cathedral, with their distinctive domed tops, have long been a symbol of Germany’s third city.

But a few days ago it emerged that, unknown even to the church authorities, the north tower also contains a secret radio antenna and listening post.

The equipment was installed by West Germany’s BND intelligence service to monitor suspected spies and foreign diplomats during the Cold War, according to a report in Spiegel magazine.

Although it has not been used in years, Catholic leaders have demanded the removal of the equipment and a proper explanation of exactly what the intelligence services were up to in the cathedral.

“I am in talks with the BND about having the system dismantled,” Lorenz Wolf, the Dean of the cathedral, told Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper. “We will not tolerate interception in the cathedral tower.”

“Get rid of it at once,” said Christian Weisner of We Are the Church, a German and Austrian Catholic movement. “Was the church even given the opportunity to say 'no'? The church must be bug free.”

The Archbishop of Munich’s office took a more measured tone. “Unfortunately, there are currently no documents that allow an authoritative statement as to when this was installed or what it’s for,” Peter Beer, vicar-general of the diocese, said. 

“We’re trying to clarify these issues. Once that is done, we can decide whether it is compatible with a house of worship.”

Erich Schmidt-Eenboom, a journalist and author who discovered the existence of the antenna, told Spiegel he believed it was used both as a listening post and to provide a secure communication channel for the West German authorities.

Fr Wolf, the cathedral dean, said he had been given to understand that the antenna is no longer in use. 

But Spiegel quoted an unnamed former BND officer as saying the cathedral tower was also used by another unidentified “authority” at the time — and may still be today.