Berlin Wall Escapes1961–1989

25 August 1961 · Guards who fled

A group leader sends his partner away at the Britzer Brücke

At about 0.30 a.m. on 25 August 1961 a riot-police group leader at the Britzer Brücke control point sent his second man off after an officer on a flimsy excuse and used the moment to desert.

A straight, still canal between banks of dense green trees under a blue summer sky, with an electricity pylon in the distance.
The Britzer Verbindungskanal (then Britzer Zweigkanal) at Baumschulenweg in 2008; the canal formed the sector border here, and the Britzer Allee crossed it at control point 67 Photo: André Karwath aka Aka. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5

At about 0.30 a.m. on 25 August 1961 a Hauptwachtmeister and group leader of the 1st motorised brigade, III Abteilung Rahnsdorf, was checked at his post by a first lieutenant. Three minutes later he sent the second guard after the officer on a flimsy pretext and deserted, according to the Stasi report of that day.

The Stasi listed the case among four riot-police desertions on 25 August and saw it as a sign that the desertions were continuing.

Sources

  1. Jahrgang 1961: Lage nach dem Bau der Berliner Mauer (9) – Bericht Nr. 486/61, 25. August 1961Stasi-Unterlagen-Archiv (DDR im Blick)

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