Berlin Wall Escapes1961–1989

24 August 1961 · Over the wall

Two masons sent to measure the wall climb it

On the morning of 24 August 1961 two masons who had been sent to take measurements at the wall of the Liesenstraße cemetery climbed over it into West Berlin. A third was stopped.

A long grey concrete wall streaked with graffiti, sitting on top of an older red-brick wall beside a street, with a steel railway bridge on the left.
Surviving section of the Berlin Wall on Liesenstraße, built on top of the old brick wall of the St. Hedwig cemetery (2008) Photo: Beek100. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

The cemetery on Liesenstraße lay on the sector border with Wedding.

On the morning of 24 August 1961 three masons were working there, with orders to take measurements at the wall. Two of them used the chance to climb over the cemetery wall into West Berlin. The third was prevented from escaping.

At 8.50 the officer in charge of the police post reported that security on this section was inadequate: a long stretch was being watched by only two policemen.

Sources

  1. Stab PdVP Berlin – Journal der Handlung, 24 August 1961Chronik der Mauer (document: Landesarchiv Berlin, C Rep. 303/26.1/239)
  2. Bericht Nr. 482/61, 24 August 1961 – Lage nach dem Bau der Berliner Mauer (8)Stasi-Unterlagen-Archiv (DDR im Blick)

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