25 September 1987 · Driving through
A couple's dump truck sticks in the barriers opposite Zehlendorf – and a friend films it
On the evening of 25 September 1987 a young woman and a man tried to break through the border opposite Zehlendorf with a truck. The attempt failed and East German border guards arrested them. A friend in West Berlin filmed it.
On the evening of Friday 25 September 1987 two East Germans, a young woman and a man, rammed a dump truck against the Wall opposite West Berlin's Zehlendorf district, trying to break through.
According to dpa, the truck got stuck and East German border guards arrested the two as they tried to climb over the barriers; the Los Angeles Times report says the guards arrested them before they could make a second attempt to break through. Witnesses told West Berlin police that neither was hurt and that no shots were fired. The Wall at that point was about 12 feet (3.6 metres) high and six inches thick.
According to the Arbeitsgemeinschaft 13. August, a friend of the couple in West Berlin knew of the plan and filmed the attempt from the western side; the couple had not known that he meant to film it. He had wanted to document it and, as a trained paramedic, to give first aid if needed.
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