Over the barrier at Chausseestraße in front of western cameras
Two young East Berliners jumped over the barrier at the Chausseestraße crossing; an East German passport controller fired and both were arrested, while western journalists who had been tipped off recorded the attempt.
The Chausseestraße border crossing lay in the East Berlin district of Mitte, on the sector border with West Berlin.
On 8 April 1989 two young East Berliners tried to get through the checkpoint. They jumped over the barrier (Schlagbaum) at the crossing.
An East German passport controller opened fire, and the two men were arrested. Western journalists had been informed about the attempt beforehand and documented it; an Associated Press photograph shows the two jumping the barrier.
The Chronik der Mauer does not name the two men or say what happened to them after their arrest.
Sources
- Chronik 1989 – 8. April 1989Chronik der Mauer (bpb / ZZF / Deutschlandradio)
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