3 December 1961 · Over the wall
Two adults and three children cut the wire near Dreilinden
On 3 December 1961 two adults and three children escaped near the Dreilinden control point on the autobahn at Drewitz after cutting through the barbed wire unnoticed by the guards; the breakthrough was discovered at about 6.50 p.m.
On 3 and 4 December 1961 the GDR again tightened its measures at the border around West Berlin, and the Stasi reported on the reactions and on incidents during these new 'security measures'.
According to its report of 4 December 1961, at about 6.50 p.m. on 3 December a serious breakthrough into West Berlin was discovered near the Dreilinden control point on the autobahn at Drewitz. The investigation found that two adults and three children had fled. They had cut through the barbed wire without the guards noticing.
In late August 1961, according to the Chronik der Mauer, GDR pioneers were clearing the woods between the Dreilinden control point and the Zehlendorf autobahn junction to create a death strip.
Sources
- Jahrgang 1961: Reaktionen auf die Sicherungsaktionen v. 3./4. Dez. – Einzel-Information Nr. 754/61, 4. Dezember 1961Stasi-Unterlagen-Archiv (DDR im Blick)
- Chronik 1961, August (daily entries)Chronik der Mauer
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A farmer's family leaves horse, cart and bicycles at the cut wire
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24 September 1961
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