Themes · Along the border
Guards who held fire
Records in which guards saw an escape and did not shoot, or let people through.
6 events: 6 successful escapes. At least 11 people reached the West in these events. The records span 1961–1989. Methods: over the wall 4, guards who fled 1, driving through 1.
24 August 1961
Allowed to chat at the border, two people cross
On 24 August 1961 a riot-police lieutenant at the Chausseestraße control point let two GDR citizens talk to West Berliners right at the border line. They used the chance to cross.
6 September 1961
Two guards let a woman with a baby through at the Puschkinallee
A woman whose husband was waiting on the other side asked a guard to let her through. He told her to come back after dark – and at 8.30 p.m. she crossed with a four-month-old child and a boy.
17 January 1986
Telecom fitter runs through Checkpoint Charlie
A 21-year-old East Berlin telecommunications fitter, installing surveillance cameras at Checkpoint Charlie, used an unguarded moment to run through the control area to West Berlin.
10 March 1988
Truck full of gas cylinders over the Glienicke Bridge
Three men drove a truck disguised as a hazardous-goods transport and loaded with 92 empty gas cylinders through four barriers on the Glienicke Bridge. It was the first successful escape over the bridge.
26 January 1989
A bricklayer scrambles over the Wall from Pankow to Wedding – seen, but not shot at
Early on 26 January 1989 a 23-year-old East German bricklayer scrambled over the Wall from Pankow into Wedding. Border guards saw him but did not open fire.
5 July 1989
Guards order a 24-year-old to halt but hold their fire as he scales the Wall
On Wednesday 5 July 1989 East German border guards ordered a 24-year-old man to halt as he scaled the Berlin Wall, but did not fire when he defied them; he reached the West.