23 December 1983 · Guards who fled
Two border guards meant to watch each other swim the Teltow Canal together
At about 1 a.m. on 23 December 1983 two East German border guards, paired so that each could watch the other, swam the Teltow Canal in uniform to a suburb in the American sector. They flagged down a car and were driven to a café, from where they called the police.
According to UPI, East German border guards were assigned to patrol in pairs so that each could keep an eye on the other. At about 1 a.m. on 23 December 1983 two guards who were supposed to watch each other fled together.
Wearing their uniforms, they swam across the Teltow Canal to a suburban district in the American sector of West Berlin. According to a police spokesman, other guards did not notice them and no shots were fired.
On the western side they stopped a passing car and were driven to a café, from where they telephoned the West Berlin police. UPI noted that at times both guards of a pair fled to the West together.
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