12 October 1961 · Tunnels

Eleven try the sewer pipe at Wolfswerder 3 – three get through

On 12 October 1961 a group of eleven people tried to escape from the property at Wolfswerder 3 in Kleinmachnow through a sewer pipe that led into West Berlin. Three reached the West; eight were arrested.

A sandy road ending at open scrubland and trees, with a lamp post and a fence at the side.
The street Wolfswerder in Kleinmachnow in 2002, ending at the former border area Photo: Andreas Lippold. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

According to a Stasi report of 1 November 1961, in the Kleinmachnow/Wolfswerder area gardens reached right up to the border fence and the guards had no adequate view of the ground. Beside the property at Wolfswerder 3 lay a sewer pipe that led into West Berlin.

On 12 October 1961 a group of eleven people tried to break through from Wolfswerder 3 using this pipe. Three of them reached West Berlin through it; the other eight were arrested in the attempt.

The Stasi cited the case as proof that attempts to escape through sewer pipes were still going on.

Sources

  1. Jahrgang 1961: Vorkommnisse an der Staatsgrenze West – Bericht Nr. 679/61, 1. November 1961Stasi-Unterlagen-Archiv (DDR im Blick)

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