28 January 1966 · Over the wall · Bernauer Straße
80 shots at Manfred B.
After a marital row, Manfred B. climbed two fences; the Kremmener Straße sentries fired 80 rounds and arrested him. West Berlin answered with a poster addressed to the soldiers.
On the evening of 28 January 1966, after an argument with his wife, Manfred B. decided on the spur of the moment to escape. He climbed the inner fence and a little later the border signal fence, which did not set off an alarm.
The sentries at Kremmener Straße nevertheless spotted him as he neared the border fence. They called out to him and fired 80 rounds in his direction, then arrested him and handed him to the police.
The attempt had been watched from West Berlin. A day later the Senate put up a poster reading "Soldat, mit Deiner Schuld bleibst Du allein" ("Soldier, you will be alone with your guilt").
Sources
Whose account is this? Told from historical research only.
Historians and memorials
- Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer – Bereich D: Alltag an der Mauer (Orientierungsplan und Ereignismarken), marker D 443Stiftung Berliner Mauer
- D 443 – Digital Guide, Berlin Wall MemorialStiftung Berliner Mauer
Facts checked against the sources: September 2026
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Cite this page
Berlin Experiences, “80 shots at Manfred B.”, Berlin Wall Escapes, 2026, https://berlinwallescapes.com/escapes/manfred-b-80-shots-1966/ (accessed [date]).
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