20 August 1961 · Over the wall

Three people at Adalbertstraße turn back when the guards come

At 10.25 p.m. on 20 August 1961 three people tried to overcome the border fortifications in Adalbertstraße; when the guards approached they fled back into East Berlin and got away.

At 0.15 a.m. on 21 August 1961 the Mitte police passed on a report made at 10.32 p.m. the previous evening by a VP-Hauptwachtmeister at control point 49: at 10.25 p.m. three unknown people had tried to overcome the border fortifications in Adalbertstraße in the direction of West Berlin.

As the posts approached, the three fled back into East Berlin and got away.

Sources

  1. Stab. Präsidium der Volkspolizei Berlin - Abt. Information - Journal der Handlung, 21. August 1961Chronik der Mauer (document: Landesarchiv Berlin, C Rep. 303/26.1/239)

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  1. 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.

    Over the wall · Reached the West · Mitte → Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

  2. 23 August 1961

    A bricklayer painting the wall's coping stones jumps down on the other side

    At 9 a.m. on 23 August 1961 a bricklayer born in 1942, who had been sent to paint the coping stones of the wall at control point 51, was standing on top of it – and jumped down into West Berlin.

    Over the wall · Reached the West · Mitte → Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

  3. 29 August 1961

    A building worker at Melchiorstraße jumps the wall

    On 29 August 1961 a man who was taking part in building work at the corner of Melchiorstraße and Adalbertstraße jumped over the wall.

    Over the wall · Reached the West · Mitte → Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

  4. 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.

    Over the wall · Stopped · Mitte → Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg