Berlin Wall Escapes1961–1989

2 September 1961 · Over the wall · Checkpoint Charlie

Over the barbed wire and the stone wall at Markgrafenstraße

At about 4 p.m. on 2 September 1961 a man of about 20 got over the barbed-wire obstacle and the stone wall at the corner of Markgrafenstraße and Zimmerstraße while the guard was not paying attention.

Black-and-white photo framed by the dark edges of a hole in a wall: East German police officers in long coats with submachine guns stand behind barbed wire on a street corner; a lorry and a domed church tower are in the background.
East German police guarding the border at the corner of Zimmerstraße and Markgrafenstraße in October 1961, a month after the escape here, photographed through a hole in the Wall (CIA booklet photo) Photo: The Central Intelligence Agency. Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

According to the Stasi report of 2 September 1961, only one successful breakthrough in East Berlin was known that day. It happened at the corner of Markgrafenstraße and Zimmerstraße at about 4 p.m.: because the police guard was inattentive, a man of about 20 managed to get over the barbed-wire obstacle and the stone wall.

In the same reporting period two other people were arrested trying to leave East Berlin, at the Wolliner Straße control point and on the S-Bahn land at Köllnische Heide station.

Sources

  1. Jahrgang 1961: Lage nach dem Bau der Berliner Mauer (17) – Bericht Nr. 530/61, 2. September 1961Stasi-Unterlagen-Archiv (DDR im Blick)

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Related escapes

  1. 23 August 1961

    Over the wall from Zimmerstraße 85

    At about 9.55 p.m. on 23 August 1961 a person came out of the house at Zimmerstraße 85 and got over the wall into West Berlin before the guard could stop them.

    Over the wall · Reached the West · Mitte → Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

  2. 30 August 1961

    Out of the corner pub and over the wall at Markgrafenstraße

    At about 1 p.m. on 30 August 1961 a man walked out of the pub on the corner of Zimmerstraße and Markgrafenstraße and climbed over the wall while the patrol was on the other side of the street.

    Over the wall · Reached the West · Mitte → Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

  3. 23 August 1961

    A lorry driver delivering building material jumps the barrier wall

    At 7.30 a.m. on 23 August 1961 a lorry driver born in 1940, who was bringing building material to a control point, left his cab and jumped over the barrier wall into West Berlin.

    Over the wall · Reached the West · Mitte → Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

  4. 18 August 1961

    Gerhard B. is injured with a bayonet at Alte Jakobstraße

    On the evening of 18 August 1961 Gerhard B., born 1942, tried to break through at control point 43 in Alte Jakobstraße; he resisted when being taken in and was injured with a bayonet.

    Over the wall · Stopped · Mitte → Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg