24 August 1961 · Over the wall
Allowed to chat at the border, two people cross
On 24 August 1961 a riot-police lieutenant at the Chausseestraße control point let two GDR citizens talk to West Berliners right at the border line. They used the chance to cross.
According to a Stasi report of November 1961, on 24 August 1961 a riot-police lieutenant named Schulz allowed two citizens of the GDR at the Chausseestraße control point to talk with West Berliners directly at the border. Both used the opportunity to cross over.
The Stasi cited the case as an example of the lack of vigilance and 'untactical behaviour' of the security forces, especially the riot police, to which it attributed a large share of the breakthroughs.
Sources
- Jahrgang 1961: Vorkommnisse an der Staatsgrenze West – Bericht Nr. 679/61, 1. November 1961Stasi-Unterlagen-Archiv (DDR im Blick)
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