16 February 1962 · Window jumps

A mother and her five-year-old jump from a balcony at Klein Glienicke

On 16 February 1962 a 25-year-old woman and her 5-year-old son jumped from the balcony of a house near the Böttcherberg cemetery into West Berlin. West Berlin police forced the border guards who were firing at them to take cover.

The West Berlin police report places the house near the cemetery Am Böttcherberg and records that the escape led into Wannsee in West Berlin.

At 16.50 on 16 February 1962 a 25-year-old woman and her 5-year-old son escaped by jumping from the balcony of the house. Two border police patrols of two men each opened fire with submachine guns.

West Berlin police officers fired warning shots that forced the border guards to take cover, and mother and son reached West Berlin unhurt. According to the West Berlin police, the border guards fired about 60 rounds and the police 39.

Sources

  1. Report of the West Berlin Schutzpolizei for February 1962Chronik der Mauer (document: Polizeihistorische Sammlung des Polizeipräsidenten in Berlin)

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  2. 29 January 1962

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  3. 19 February 1962

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  4. 17 September 1962

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