Image Copyright: D. Hillmann

As a building material, Baumberge sand-lime brick was chosen, which is still being exploited in close proximity to the tower today. The tower is named after '(Doctor) Longinus'. That was the nickname of Friedrich (Fritz) Westhoff, a natural scientist in the Baumbergen, founder of the Baumberge-Association and initiator of the tower construction.

Image Copyright: D. Hillmann

The Longinus Tower served for military purposes in the last year of the 2nd World War 1944/1945. It was confiscated based on the Reich Contribution Law. Tracking systems (radar) were installed on the viewing platform for early detection of approaching hostile air force units and fleets. The commando was made available by the air force messages regiment 2 in Münster-Gremmendorf. During the advance of the Americans and the occupation of the Baumberge, the Longinus tower suffered an artillery hit. At the beginning of the 1950ties, the tower for telecommunications was raised with an architectonic unsuitable upper part with an integrated viewing platform.

Image Copyright: D. Hillmann

In 1952, after the 2nd World War, Reinhold Holtstiege presented for the first time television publicly in West Germany on the Loninus Tower. As the Longinus Towr had then no power connection, the power supply was given by a converter, which in turn was fed by a car battery. Later, the Longinus Tower served as television transmission facility of the Nottuln broadcasting station. But, due to its low height it didn't meet the demands and so, in close proximity a 182 metre high transmission mast was constructed, which was then replaced by a cable-tightened steel-latticed mast with a height of 181,2 metres in 2005.