8 September 1961 · Driving through · Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag
A Barkas van breaks through at the Brandenburg Gate
At 2.50 in the morning a Barkas van drove at about 70 km/h through the right-hand side of the Brandenburg Gate, which was secured with metal poles, and stopped on the western side.
In the early hours of 8 September 1961, at 2.50 a.m., a Barkas delivery van drove at about 70 km/h through the right-hand side of the Brandenburg Gate, which was barred only with metal poles.
The van stopped on West Berlin territory. After a short conversation with West Berlin police officers it drove on.
The Stasi's report for 8–10 September 1961 lists it as one of two breakthroughs in which escapers deceived the guards and broke through the barriers by vehicle. A reinforcement of the engineering barriers was then ordered.
Where the accounts differ
The sources do not tell this story the same way. We give each version with its source rather than choose one; the summary and map follow the best-supported version.
Where the van went through the Gate
- Through the right-hand side of the Brandenburg Gate, which was barred with metal poles.Stasi-Unterlagen-Archiv (DDR im Blick) (GDR record)
- It hit the red-and-white barrier in the middle of the Gate's passages, then skidded through the barbed wire behind it onto West Berlin ground.Honnefer Volkszeitung, via Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (Zeitungsportal) (press)
What happened to the van
- It stopped on West Berlin ground and, after a short conversation with West Berlin police officers, drove on.Stasi-Unterlagen-Archiv (DDR im Blick) (GDR record)
- It was damaged in the crash and later had to be towed away.Honnefer Volkszeitung, via Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (Zeitungsportal) (press)
Sources
Whose account is this? Drawn from a GDR record and press reports.
GDR records
- Jahrgang 1961: Lage nach dem Bau der Berliner Mauer (20) – Bericht Nr. 554/61, 10 September 1961Stasi-Unterlagen-Archiv (DDR im Blick)
Press
- Sperre am Brandenburger Tor durchbrochen (dpa) (Honnefer Volkszeitung, 1961-09-09, p. 1)Honnefer Volkszeitung, via Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (Zeitungsportal)
- Brandenburger Tor verbarrikadiert (dpa) (Honnefer Volkszeitung, 1961-09-11, p. 1)Honnefer Volkszeitung, via Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (Zeitungsportal)
Facts checked against the sources: November 2026
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Cite this page
Berlin Experiences, “A Barkas van breaks through at the Brandenburg Gate”, Berlin Wall Escapes, 2026, https://berlinwallescapes.com/escapes/barkas-van-brandenburg-gate-1961/ (accessed [date]).
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