The Bielefeld Conspiracy: the town that supposedly doesn’t exist
With conspiracy theories so much in the news, it’s a good time to re-run this educative entertainment from Tom Scott:
In north-west Germany sits Bielefeld, a city complete with castle, cathedral and citizens. Just one catch: according to something that’s half urban legend, half in-joke, it doesn’t exist. Let’s talk about belief and Bielefeld.
For more on the Bielefeld Conspiracy, see the BBC’s report:
Achim Held, an IT student, was at a party in Kiel, a northern port city, when a guest turned up from Bielefeld – but Achim was quite unaware of the city’s existence. Other party guests were also baffled by Bielefeld, German broadcaster ARD reports.
Soon after that, Achim could not resist posting the message “Bielefeld? There’s no such thing” after spotting that a motorway sign for Bielefeld had been crossed out because of roadworks.
Usenet was very limited compared with the internet, which soon surpassed it, but the message reached enough users to go viral.
I was surprised no one mentioned it was the HQ of BAOR Fighting command
I am old enough to remember Two Way Family Favourites on BBC Light Prog in the 50s and 60s. Most of the British Army in Germany seemed to reside in the town of Beleifeld. This may be a bad folk memory for the Germans so its “non-existence” is their way of forgetting.
Lol. I was Born in Bielefeld And still reside there. I literally embraced the BA in Form of my ex , actually Herford , a neighbouring town, And Gütersloh, Another neighbouring town were at least equally Important, Herford Bein Home To the british Broadcast Station bfbs And Gütersloh for the Army Airport. Sennelager was a big area And a Thing though, certainly. I couldnt Imagine anybody but the very elderly To be in any way Bad folk Memory afflicted by the BA though, OK , the Neonazis And the AfD maybe. A historian was once quoted as saying that Bielefeld defines nondescript. It is fun Stuff the conspiracy, Not a collective Wish To Forget. OK i am a 70 s Kid , Not been around in the 50 s , but that is Just the Point. My Generation And following aint interested in the war. What s it got To do with us. I am only vaguely german for having been Born Here , not by descent, but that is what my Generation feels.