19 August 1961 · Over the wall · Invalidenstraße and the Humboldthafen
Two people caught at the cemetery wall in Scharnhorststraße
On 19 August 1961 two people were stopped trying to get over the wall of the cemetery in Scharnhorststraße into West Berlin.
An entry at 3.25 p.m. in the police journal of 19 August 1961 records that two people had been stopped trying to get over the wall of the cemetery in Scharnhorststraße (Berlin N 4) to West Berlin. Both were handed over to the Mitte police inspectorate; their names were not yet known.
Three days later, on 22 August, the Interior Ministry staff reported that security on the stretch of the Invalidenfriedhof in Scharnhorststraße, directly on the canal to the western sector, was inadequate, and that at about 3.45 p.m. that day a Dr. Herbert R. from Friedrichsfelde had tried to climb over the cemetery wall.
Sources
- Stab. Präsidium der Volkspolizei Berlin - Abt. Information - Journal der Handlung, 19. August 1961Chronik der Mauer (document: Landesarchiv Berlin, C Rep. 303/26.1/239)
- Stab. Präsidium der Volkspolizei Berlin - Abt. Information - Journal der Handlung, 22. 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
Related escapes
18 August 1961
Gerhard B. is injured with a bayonet at Alte Jakobstraße
On the evening of 18 August 1961 Gerhard B., born 1942, tried to break through at control point 43 in Alte Jakobstraße; he resisted when being taken in and was injured with a bayonet.
22 August 1961
A brewery tractor driver leaves the border works at Chausseestraße
On 22 August 1961 the driver of a tractor from the Schultheiss brewery, used for building the border fortifications at Chausseestraße, fled to West Berlin.
24 August 1961
Two masons sent to measure the wall climb it
On the morning of 24 August 1961 two masons who had been sent to take measurements at the wall of the Liesenstraße cemetery climbed over it into West Berlin. A third was stopped.
13 August 1961
Over the sports ground in Dresdner Straße with a child and a suitcase
On 13 August 1961 a woman with a child and a suitcase left for West Berlin across the sports ground in Dresdner Straße.