2 December 1986 · Over the wall
One gets over, one is caught: Mahlow to Lichtenrade
Two workmates from Beelitz helped each other over the barriers at Mahlow-Waldblick; the 22-year-old made it over the three-metre Wall into Lichtenrade while his 18-year-old companion was arrested.
On the evening of 2 December 1986 an 18-year-old toolmaker from Beelitz and a 22-year-old worker from Wittbrietzen near Potsdam, both employed at VEB Kabelwerk Beelitz, started out from Waldblick, part of Mahlow, heading for Lichtenrade in West Berlin.
They helped each other over the rear wall and, without realising it, set off an alarm at a border troops command post when crossing the signal fence. At the last obstacle, a three-metre prefabricated wall, two aimed shots were fired at the younger man without warning; he was not hit.
With his companion's help the 22-year-old got over the Wall and reached West Berlin. The 18-year-old was arrested and taken to the Stasi remand prison in Potsdam. The Stasi attributed the success of the escape to the lack of a local signalling system, which delayed the border soldiers.
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