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
- 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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