29 October 1966 · Over the wall

Siegfried J. sets off an alarm and gives up at Bergstraße

A man who had moved from West to East Berlin only in 1965 climbed the cemetery wall at Bergstraße, triggered a signal device, turned back and was caught hiding in a school yard.

On 29 October 1966 Siegfried J., who had moved from the West to East Berlin only in 1965, tried to get to West Berlin at Bergstraße. He climbed over the cemetery wall and walked towards the border wall.

He set off a signal device, alerting the border soldiers. He then abandoned the attempt and tried to get away back into East Berlin via Bergstraße.

He hid on the grounds of a school, where border guards arrested him. Questioned about the circumstances of his move to the East, he referred his interrogators to the GDR State Security.

Sources

  1. Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer – Bereich A: Die Mauer und der Todesstreifen (Orientierungsplan und Ereignismarken), marker A 308Stiftung Berliner Mauer
  2. A 308 – Digital Guide, Berlin Wall MemorialStiftung Berliner Mauer

Spotted an error, or know more about this story? Email us a correction or addition

  1. 15 January 1966

    Gerd L. turns back under warning shots and hides at Brunnenstraße 141

    A local resident reached the border strip, then under construction; warning shots turned him back and he was arrested on the top floor of Brunnenstraße 141.

    Over the wall · Stopped · Mitte

  2. 19 May 1966

    Peter St. escapes on his birthday, losing his wallet

    On his birthday Peter St. crawled from the Sophien cemetery across the border strip; a signal device failed and he got through, leaving behind a wallet containing his call-up papers.

    Over the wall · Reached the West · Mitte

  3. 7 September 1966

    Klaus N. escapes his pursuers but is arrested in Brunnenstraße

    Fired on after climbing the rear fence at Schönholzer Straße, Klaus N. hid behind the tank traps, slipped back to East Berlin, and was arrested by an off-duty policeman who had watched.

    Over the wall · Stopped · Mitte

  4. 7 July 1968

    Bernd B. is shot five metres from the Wall

    Crawling in the shelter of the Reconciliation Church, Bernd B. got within five metres of the Wall before a guard fired a warning shot and then shot him as he tried to jump up.

    Over the wall · Stopped · Mitte