19 September 1961 · Window jumps · Bernauer Straße
Heavily pregnant Helga Knittel jumps first
The Knittel family called the West Berlin fire brigade, then jumped one after another from their second-floor window into its net: first the heavily pregnant mother, then the daughter, then the father.
After deciding to escape, the Knittel family of Bernauer Straße 8 let the West Berlin fire brigade know. The firefighters arrived with a jumping sheet at around 10 p.m. on 19 September 1961.
Helga Knittel, who was heavily pregnant, jumped first from the second-floor window, followed by her daughter Marina and finally the father. The escape was well prepared, and the family were able to bring some of their household goods with them.
Three days after the escape Helga Knittel gave birth to her second daughter in West Berlin.
Sources
- Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer, Bereich B: Ereignismarken (B 368)Stiftung Berliner Mauer
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