Berlin Wall Escapes1961–1989

23 August 1961 · Over the wall · The Spree between Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain

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.

A wide cobbled street with parked cars running straight into a graffiti-covered Berlin Wall, with East Berlin buildings and a chimney behind it.
The Wall at Bethaniendamm, where Köpenicker Straße ended, in October 1986 – the stretch where control point 51 probably stood Photo: Roehrensee. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

At about 9 a.m. on 23 August 1961 Klaus K., a bricklayer born in 1942 who lived in Treptow, was painting the coping stones of the barrier wall at control point 51 for VEB Hochbau Friedrichshain. According to the East Berlin police journal, while he was standing on the wall he jumped down into West Berlin and walked away.

The Stasi report of 24 August mentioned him in one line: another person, a bricklayer working directly on the barrier wall at control point 51, had broken through to West Berlin.

Sources

  1. Stab Präsidium der Volkspolizei Berlin, Abt. Information – Journal der Handlung, 23 August 1961Chronik der Mauer (document: Landesarchiv Berlin, C Rep. 303/26.1/239)
  2. Jahrgang 1961: Lage nach dem Bau der Berliner Mauer (7) – Bericht Nr. 477/61, 24. August 1961Stasi-Unterlagen-Archiv (DDR im Blick)

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