Die Sirene der "Todesfabrik" ☠ | Schaltschrank, Probealarm u.v.m. | Wandel & Goltermann K-SE 1200

On May 29, 1920, a horrific catastrophe occurred at the "Espagit" explosives and poison gas factory near Hallschlag (Eifel region): Following several violent explosions, the "death factory," as it is still colloquially known today, caught fire and was completely destroyed. The site was subsequently contaminated with countless explosives and toxic substances. The real scandal is that the proper cleanup of the contaminated site did not begin until the early 1990s. To warn and inform the population in the surrounding villages should any complications arise during the cleanup, four electronic sirens from Wandel & Goltermann (type: K-SE) were procured. Loudspeaker sirens, which could also be used for announcements, were an absolute novelty at the time. The company Wandel & Goltermann built the first electronic sirens ever, starting in the 1980s. Three of the sirens, which were installed near the former munitions factory, still exist today: two K-SE 1200s and one K-SE 600. The fourth unit, a K-SE 2400, was dismantled and stored for spare parts, as it is now virtually impossible to obtain suitable replacement parts for this type of siren. In this video, the K-SE 1200 can be seen and heard on the community center in Hallschlag. Until its installation, an E57 siren stood there, and the S57 contactor box from 1964 still serves as a reminder of it. As a special treat, I'll show you detailed shots of the K-SE's control cabinet, which have never been seen before. A true world premiere! Shots from the roof, in close proximity to the siren, are also included. And of course, there's something for the ears too! The siren, along with its two preserved counterparts, now serves as a fire alarm signal and can be activated analogously with a 5-tone sequence. A test alarm is conducted every first Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. I made the audio recording of the siren test on February 2, 2022. Many thanks to the fire chief of the Gerolstein municipal association, Mr. Löbens, for granting me access to the siren! Many thanks to Mr. Löbens, the fire chief of the Gerolstein municipal association, for granting me access to the siren! ------------------ Video Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 0:14 - Historical Background: Explosion of the "Espagit" Ammunition Factory 2:47 - Exterior Shot of the K-SE 1200 3:25 - Control Cabinet of the K-SE 1200 5:12 - S57 Contactor Box 5:26 - Disassembled E57 Siren 5:45 - Roof Shot of the K-SE 1200 6:05 - Test Alarm of the K-SE 1200 7:55 - Image Sources & Outro