23 September 1961 – 24 September 1961 · Window jumps
Two night-time jumps from the second floor of Bernauer Straße 16
On two consecutive days in September 1961 an unknown man jumped from a second-floor window of Bernauer Straße 16 into the West.
Shortly after midnight on 23 September 1961 an unknown man jumped into the West from a second-floor window of Bernauer Straße 16.
The next day, 24 September 1961, another man escaped from the second floor of the same house by jumping into a fire brigade jumping sheet.
The 24th was also the day the forced evacuation of the border houses on Bernauer Straße began.
Sources
- Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer – Bereich C: Der Bau der Mauer (Orientierungsplan und Ereignismarken), marker C 394, C 400Stiftung Berliner Mauer
- Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer – Bereich B: Die Zerstörung der Stadt (Orientierungsplan und Ereignismarken), marker B 370Stiftung Berliner Mauer
- C 394 – Digital Guide, Berlin Wall MemorialStiftung Berliner Mauer
- C 400 – Digital Guide, Berlin Wall MemorialStiftung Berliner Mauer
- B 370 – Digital Guide, Berlin Wall MemorialStiftung Berliner Mauer
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Related escapes
19 September 1961
Heavily pregnant Helga Knittel jumps first
The Knittel family called the West Berlin fire brigade, then jumped one after another from their second-floor window into its net: first the heavily pregnant mother, then the daughter, then the father.
19 September 1961
Three generations jump into the net at Bernauer Straße 10
At about 11.30 p.m. Mrs K., her daughter-in-law and her grandson Detlef jumped from the second floor into a West Berlin fire brigade net.
19 September 1961
Erich B.'s family jumps from Bernauer Straße 42
A family of five from Swinemünder Straße 23 jumped from the first floor of the neighbouring house into a fire brigade net; the father broke his thigh.
20 September 1961
Five fire engines for two jumpers at Bernauer Straße 10
Just after midnight guards watched five fire engines take up position with jumping sheets; shortly afterwards two people jumped.