13 October 1961 · Driving through

Nine refugees run on when their lorry sticks in the wire

On 13 October 1961 nine East Germans tried to drive a lorry through the border into Zehlendorf. It got stuck in the barriers, but all nine ran on under constant fire and reached West Berlin unhurt.

On 13 October 1961 nine refugees tried to break through in a lorry in the south of Berlin, on the border with Zehlendorf.

The lorry got stuck in the barriers, and the nine had to go on on foot while the border police kept firing at them.

None of them was hit, and all nine reached West Berlin. RIAS broadcast a conversation with the refugees.

Sources

  1. Chronik 1961 – OktoberChronik der Mauer

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