Berlin Wall Escapes1961–1989

16 August 1961 · Swimming · The Spree between Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain

Three jump from the works yard into the Flutgraben

At 11.05 a.m. on 16 August 1961 three people jumped from the grounds of the OLW works in Treptow into the Flutgraben and reached West Berlin.

The staff of the water police reported at 11.30 a.m. on 16 August 1961 that at 11.05 a.m. three people had jumped into the Flutgraben from the OLW Treptow site and gone to West Berlin.

Because the Flutgraben was not navigable, the water police proposed that it be blocked by pioneers with 'Spanish riders' (chevaux-de-frise) to stop people swimming through.

Sources

  1. Stab. Präsidium der Volkspolizei Berlin - Abt. Information - Journal der Handlung, 16. August 1961Chronik der Mauer (document: Landesarchiv Berlin, C Rep. 303/26.1/239)
  2. 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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Related escapes

  1. 13 August 1961

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    At about 10 a.m. on 13 August 1961 a young girl undressed to her underwear at the Flutgraben near Lohmühlenstraße, jumped in and swam to West Berlin, where the crowd there 'received' her.

    Swimming · Reached the West · Treptow-Köpenick (Alt-Treptow) → Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

  2. 13 August 1961

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    At 1.30 p.m. on 13 August 1961 three youths swam fully clothed across the Landwehrkanal from Lohmühlenstraße to West Berlin.

    Swimming · Reached the West · Treptow-Köpenick (Alt-Treptow) → Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg / Neukölln

  3. 23 August 1961

    Horst P. and Wolfgang R. are caught swimming at the Treptower Brücke

    Before 4.20 a.m. on 23 August 1961 two men born in 1940 were found swimming in the water at the Treptower Brücke, trying to get to West Berlin, and were arrested.

    Swimming · Stopped · Treptow-Köpenick (Alt-Treptow)

  4. September 1961

    Eight people escape over the Flutgraben from the VEB OLW works

    According to a Stasi report of 14 September 1961, eight people had fled 'in recent days' from the grounds of VEB OLW in Treptow across the Flutgraben to West Berlin, and two more were arrested trying. The works' building on the channel was itself part of the border.

    Swimming · Some got through · Treptow-Köpenick