21 August 1961 · Over the wall
A fitter climbs the Bergmann-Borsig factory wall with a ladder
On 21 August 1961 a fitter born in 1942, who was helping to put up a wire fence along the wall of VEB Bergmann-Borsig in Wilhelmsruh, left his brigade on a pretext and climbed over the wall with a ladder into West Berlin.
On 21 August 1961, at about 10.15 a.m., Siegfried E., a fitter born in 1942 from Berlin-Blankenburg, was working with a brigade at VEB Bergmann-Borsig in Wilhelmsruh, putting up a wire fence along the works wall. According to the East Berlin police journal he left the brigade on a pretext and climbed over the wall with a ladder.
The Stasi recorded the escape in its report of 22 August: a fitter from Bergmann-Borsig had fled to West Berlin while his brigade was stringing wire along the wall.
Sources
- Stab Präsidium der Volkspolizei Berlin, Abt. Information – Journal der Handlung, 22 August 1961Chronik der Mauer (document: Landesarchiv Berlin, C Rep. 303/26.1/239)
- Jahrgang 1961: Lage nach dem Bau der Berliner Mauer (6) – Bericht Nr. 475/61, 22. August 1961Stasi-Unterlagen-Archiv (DDR im Blick)
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