29 March 1962 · False papers and disguises · Bernauer Straße

Johannes M. offers a guard a thousand marks at Ruppiner Straße

Johannes M. tried to buy his and his girlfriend's way through the border; the guard seemed to agree, then alerted his comrades.

Colour photo: a large, weathered corner apartment building and a row of houses along a cobbled street, their windows bricked up, with a tree in front and overhead tram wires.
The corner of Bernauer Straße and Ruppiner Straße on 19 August 1963, with the border houses' windows bricked up Photo: Roger W from Sarasota, Florida, U.S.A.. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

On the afternoon of 29 March 1962 Johannes M. approached the border guard posted at Ruppiner Straße, near Bernauer Straße, and offered him a thousand marks to let him and his girlfriend through to the West.

The soldier appeared to accept. Instead, he alerted his comrades.

A street junction seen across a cobbled pavement, with a tree-lined side street leading away and a white lorry parked on the left.
The Bernauer Straße / Ruppiner Straße junction in 2007 Photo: Andreas Thum. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

When Johannes M. came back with his girlfriend, Klara B., both were arrested.

Sources

  1. Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer – Bereich D: Alltag an der Mauer (Orientierungsplan und Ereignismarken), marker D 425Stiftung Berliner Mauer
  2. D 425 – Digital Guide, Berlin Wall MemorialStiftung Berliner Mauer
  3. D 425 – Digitaler Tourguide, Gedenkstätte Berliner MauerStiftung Berliner Mauer

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