Berlin Wall Escapes1961–1989

16 February 1977 · Over the wall

Dietmar Schwietzer killed near Schönwalde

An 18-year-old from Magdeburg got through several border fences at Schönwalde but was killed by gunfire a few metres from the Wall; four guards fired 91 rounds.

A rust-coloured memorial stele with a portrait and text panel at the edge of fields and woodland
Memorial stele for Dietmar Schwietzer on the Berlin Wall Trail at the border between Schönwalde-Glien and Spandau (2011) Photo: Pemba.mpimaji. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Dietmar Schwietzer was born in Magdeburg on 21 February 1958. In February 1977 he rode a motorbike about 100 km to Hennigsdorf, continued by bus to Schönwalde and crossed the Niederneuendorf Canal towards the border with Spandau.

Shortly after 7 a.m. on 16 February 1977 he got over the hinterland fence and a dog-run area and then climbed the signal fence, which set off the alarm. He ran towards the border wall about 30 metres away.

A tall narrow memorial panel with text about Dietmar Schwietzer
Memorial panel for Dietmar Schwietzer at Berliner Allee, Schönwalde-Glien (2015) Photo: OTFW, Berlin. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Guards in two towers opened fire. Four border soldiers fired 91 rounds of automatic fire; three bullets hit him a few metres short of the wall, and a shot to the back of the head killed him. He was five days short of his 19th birthday.

The Stasi watched his funeral in Magdeburg on 23 February 1977 and the family was put under surveillance and threatened with prosecution if the story reached West Germany. His father later sent the funeral bill to Erich Honecker, demanding that his son's killer pay it.

On 29 November 1995 the Potsdam district court sentenced three of the soldiers to one year and three months each for joint manslaughter, suspended on probation. A memorial stele was dedicated at the Spandau–Schönwalde-Glien border in 2011.

Sources

  1. Schwietzer, DietmarChronik der Mauer
  2. Schwietzer, Dietmar (German biography)Chronik der Mauer

Spotted an error, or know more about this story? Email us a correction or addition

Related escapes

  1. May 1977

    A former border officer helps Rainer P. over the Wall and is caught

    Having reconnoitred the border, the pair crossed every barrier from a back yard on Kremmener Straße; Uwe W. boosted Rainer P. over the Wall and was then arrested at its foot.

    Over the wall · Some got through · Mitte

  2. 22 November 1980

    Marienetta Jirkowsky shot from a ladder at Hohen Neuendorf

    18-year-old Marienetta Jirkowsky and two friends climbed the border barriers with a ladder; the two young men reached West Berlin, but she was shot as her hands reached the top of the Wall.

    Over the wall · Killed · Hohen Neuendorf (Brandenburg) / Reinickendorf

  3. 24 November 1986

    Michael Bittner shot at Glienicke/Nordbahn

    The 25-year-old climbed the inner wall with a wooden ladder and was shot in the back as he reached the final wall; the Stasi then erased almost every trace of his death.

    Over the wall · Killed · Glienicke/Nordbahn (Brandenburg) / Reinickendorf

  4. 19 February 1962

    Dorit Schmiel – five friends crawl towards Reinickendorf

    Five young East Berliners cut through the fence in Rosenthal after midnight and crawled across the snowy border strip; guards opened fire without warning, killing 20-year-old seamstress Dorit Schmiel and wounding a 16-year-old.

    Over the wall · Killed · Pankow / Reinickendorf