22 September 1961 · Window jumps
Family F. jumps under fire from the third floor
While a border policeman fired a warning shot and West Berlin police answered with tear gas, a mother jumped into the fire brigade's net; her husband threw down their five-year-old son and then jumped himself.
On 22 September 1961 the F. family jumped from their third-floor flat into a jumping sheet held by the West Berlin fire brigade. A neighbour had alerted the border police.
As Mrs F. stood on the window ledge, a border policeman in the neighbouring house ordered her to climb back in and tried to stop her with a warning shot from his submachine gun. West Berlin police fired tear-gas cartridges at him.
Mrs F. jumped into the net. While border police were breaking into the flat, her husband threw their five-year-old son Michael down and then jumped himself. The family survived.
Sources
- Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer, Bereich B: Ereignismarken (B 352)Stiftung Berliner Mauer
- Schicksalsort Bernauer Straße nach dem Bau der Berliner Mauer 1961ullstein bild blog
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