After World War II, Deutschlandsender became the main national radio station of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), with programming aimed at all of Germany.

In 1994, German broadcasting authorities reorganised radio services of the former GDR and the Federal Republic of Germany.

Deutschlandfunk in the west (based in Cologne) and RIAS in Berlin were merged with Deutschlandsender to form Deutschlandradio.

Every Sunday just before midday, the station broadcasts the sound of the Freedom Bell in Berlin along with a reading of part of the Declaration of Independence.

The tradition of broadcasting the bell was originally begun by RIAS, an antecedent of DLF Kultur.