13 August 1961 · Swimming · The Spree between Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain

A young girl undresses and swims the Flutgraben

At about 10 a.m. on 13 August 1961 a young girl undressed to her underwear at the Flutgraben near Lohmühlenstraße, jumped in and swam to West Berlin, where the crowd there 'received' her.

According to a Treptow police report of 11.20 a.m. on 13 August 1961, a young girl undressed down to her underwear at the Flutgraben near Lohmühlenstraße at about 10 a.m., jumped into the water and swam to West Berlin, where the crowd gathered there 'received' her.

Shortly afterwards a woman came and picked up the clothes left behind. The entry then notes that someone was taken to police station (VPR) 231 for further checks; it does not say who.

Sources

  1. Stab PdVP Berlin - Journal der Handlung, 13. August 1961Chronik der Mauer (document: Landesarchiv Berlin, C Rep. 303/26.1/239)

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

  1. 13 August 1961

    Three youths swim the Landwehrkanal in their clothes

    At 1.30 p.m. on 13 August 1961 three youths swam fully clothed across the Landwehrkanal from Lohmühlenstraße to West Berlin.

    Swimming · Reached the West · Treptow-Köpenick (Alt-Treptow) → Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg / Neukölln

  2. 16 August 1961

    Three jump from the works yard into the Flutgraben

    At 11.05 a.m. on 16 August 1961 three people jumped from the grounds of the OLW works in Treptow into the Flutgraben and reached West Berlin.

    Swimming · Reached the West · Treptow-Köpenick (Alt-Treptow) → Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

  3. 23 August 1961

    Horst P. and Wolfgang R. are caught swimming at the Treptower Brücke

    Before 4.20 a.m. on 23 August 1961 two men born in 1940 were found swimming in the water at the Treptower Brücke, trying to get to West Berlin, and were arrested.

    Swimming · Stopped · Treptow-Köpenick (Alt-Treptow)

  4. September 1961

    Eight people escape over the Flutgraben from the VEB OLW works

    According to a Stasi report of 14 September 1961, eight people had fled 'in recent days' from the grounds of VEB OLW in Treptow across the Flutgraben to West Berlin, and two more were arrested trying. The works' building on the channel was itself part of the border.

    Swimming · Some got through · Treptow-Köpenick