Competing development groups from AEG and Siemens Halske joined forces in 1903 to form the „Gesellschaft für drahtlose Telegraphie mbH“, which later became Telefunken. Telefunken quickly got a reputation with the construction of the transmitter site of Norddeich Radio in 1905 and Nauen in 1906. Afte a few years, Telefunken widely known not only because of its production of receiving and transmitting equipment, but also because of their domestic radios, records and corresponding turntables. As early as 1928, Telefunken presented a television system based on mechanical scanning and the company equipped the first electronic television studio in 1938. Commercial intercept receivers, equipment for maritime and aeronautical communications and military telecommunication systems also contributed to the rise of Telefunken. After the end of the Second World War, most of the remaining production facilities were dismantled.

As early as 1945, Telefunken in Berlin resumed its own receiver production, initially with „emergency radios“ of simpole construction and components found on the surplus market. In addition to domestic radios, the production range of Telefunken was soon expanded to include commercial transmitters and receivers, television technology and voice recorders.

Numerous commercial receivers helped Telefunken to get an excellent reputation in the maritime communications sector and in military communications. On the other hand, Telefunken also offered an enormous range of home electronics.

In 1979, the company was renamed AEG - Telefunken Aktiengesellschaft, and the fragmented group was near bancrupcy in 1982. Telefunken was able to regain its footing and produced civilian and military communication systems. Finally, the French Thomson CSF took over the group, and after merging with DASA (Deutsche Aerospace) and Daimler Benz, the manufacturer of commercial communication technology now trades as Telefunken RACOM.

I will only mention Telefunken's best known shortwave receivers here, for further information on Wehrmacht and military equipment I have to refer to other sources.