Berlin Wall Escapes1961–1989

30 August 1961 · Over the wall · Checkpoint Charlie

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.

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, 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 30 August 1961, at about 1 p.m. a man broke through the border at the corner of Zimmerstraße and Markgrafenstraße after leaving a pub that stood at that spot.

He climbed over the wall at a moment when the patrol was on the other side of the street, so the breakthrough could not be prevented.

Sources

  1. Jahrgang 1961: Lage nach dem Bau der Berliner Mauer (14) – Bericht Nr. 500/61, 30. August 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. 2 September 1961

    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.

    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