22 August 1961 · Window jumps · Bernauer Straße
A pretend visitor jumps from Bernauer Straße 7
Claiming to be visiting someone, a young woman talked her way past the rear guard posts, then jumped from a first-floor window two hours later.
On the evening of 22 August 1961 a young woman got past the guard posts at the back of the houses by saying she was going on a visit, and entered Bernauer Straße 7.
Two hours later she jumped from a first-floor window.
She was injured and lay on the pavement until West Berlin police took her away.
Sources
Whose account is this? Drawn from a GDR record and historical research.
GDR records
- Stab. Präsidium der Volkspolizei Berlin – Abt. Information – Journal der Handlung, 22. August 1961Chronik der Mauer (document: Landesarchiv Berlin, C Rep. 303/26.1/239)
Historians and memorials
- Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer – Bereich B: Die Zerstörung der Stadt (Orientierungsplan und Ereignismarken), marker B 361Stiftung Berliner Mauer
- B 361 – Digital Guide, Berlin Wall MemorialStiftung Berliner Mauer
Facts checked against the sources: September 2026
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Cite this page
Berlin Experiences, “A pretend visitor jumps from Bernauer Straße 7”, Berlin Wall Escapes, 2026, https://berlinwallescapes.com/escapes/young-woman-visit-bernauer-strasse-7-1961/ (accessed [date]).
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