Berlin Wall Escapes1961–1989

31 March 1989 · Driving through

Three men break through the first control point at Drewitz

Late on 31 March 1989 a car with GDR plates and three men aboard broke through the first control point at Drewitz and hit a barrier; the three were led away. Travellers reported shots, which the GDR denied.

Colour photo from a bridge railing over a divided autobahn with lorries and cars, overhead lane signs including 'Military', and a white wall and watchtower in the distance.
Looking south from the Königswegbrücke towards the Drewitz checkpoint in 1987 Photo: Jochims. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

At about 11.50 p.m. on Friday 31 March 1989 a car with GDR number plates broke through the first control point at the GDR's Drewitz crossing and then drove into a barrier. Travellers told the West Berlin police that the three occupants were led away.

The GDR news agency ADN said three men had driven up to the crossing too fast and damaged security installations. The travellers also said they had heard several shots; according to witnesses a person was hurt when the border officials stopped the car.

Black-and-white photo of a covered checkpoint with rows of cars and uniformed officers leaning into car windows beside white control booths.
GDR officers checking cars at the Drewitz crossing, 31 March 1972 Photo: Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-L0331-0005 / Hartmut Reiche. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 de

The Senate protested. Its spokesman Werner Kolhoff, referring to the shots reported by witnesses, called on those responsible in the GDR to think harder about why people were willing to risk life and limb to leave the country. The GDR rejected the reports of shooting as false.

Sources

  1. Flucht gescheitert (taz, 3 April 1989)taz
  2. Protest gegen Mauer-Schüsse (taz, 5 April 1989)taz
  3. DDR bestreitet Schüsse (taz, 6 April 1989)taz

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