Berlin Wall Escapes1961–1989

Year by year

1984

On 2 February 1984 the National Defence Council decided to remove the 38,000 surface obstacles (Flächensperren) and 19 kilometres of concrete tank obstacles (Höckersperren) along the Berlin border because of how they looked; on 13 March engineers began a second wall 100 metres behind the first at the Brandenburg Gate.12 The last self-firing devices on the inner-German border came down on 30 November and 1 December.3 The Chronik der Mauer dates to 1984 the rise in exit permits that took away much of escape help's basis.4

Among the 1984 records: an unknown man over the Wall at Brunnenstraße with a ladder in July despite an aimed shot, two men with home-built hang gliders on a Leipziger Straße tower block in October, and Michael Schmidt, 20, shot at Schulzestraße on 1 December; the two guards were commended and paid 200 marks each, and only their use of 50 rounds was criticised.5

Sources for this text

  1. Chronik 1984: FebruarChronik der Mauer
  2. Chronik 1984: MärzChronik der Mauer
  3. Chronik 1984: NovemberChronik der Mauer
  4. Flucht, Fluchthilfe, WiderstandChronik der Mauer
  5. Chronik 1984: DezemberChronik der Mauer

Checked October 2026. Facts taken from an escape record on this site link to that record, which lists its own sources.

6 events: 1 successful escape, 1 partly successful escape, 3 failed attempts and 1 fatal attempt. At least 2 people reached the West in these events.

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  1. 8 April 1984

    Watchtower fire at Neukölln: one of two climbers gets over

    Late on Sunday 8 April 1984 East German guards fired on two men scrambling over the Wall at Neukölln; a 20-year-old reached the West, but his companion, caught with him on top of the Wall, did not.

    Over the wall · Some got through · Neukölln

  2. 2 June 1984

    Trabant against the Staaken barrier

    A 38-year-old driver tried to force his Trabant through the Staaken crossing but crashed into a heavy barrier at the passport control line.

    Driving through · Stopped · Spandau

  3. 24 July 1984

    Ladder escape at Brunnenstraße despite an aimed shot

    An unknown man climbed the inner wall with a ladder, set off the alarm cutting the signal fence, and got over the Wall after the Schönholzer Straße tower fired a warning shot and a missed aimed shot.

    Over the wall · Reached the West · Mitte

  4. 24 October 1984

    Two hang gliders on a tower-block roof in the Leipziger Straße

    Two men carried two home-built hang gliders up to the roof of a Leipziger Straße tower block, changed the lock on the roof door and tried to launch towards West Berlin. The wind was wrong, they gave up and left, leaving the gliders behind.

    Aircraft and balloons · Stopped · Mitte

  5. 27 October 1984

    A window cleaner's hang glider, carried to night practice by public transport

    A 26-year-old glass and building cleaner built two hang gliders, practised at night on the edge of Berlin and scouted the Leipziger Straße tower blocks as a launch site. A tip from the public about glider parts stored in an attic led to his arrest.

    Aircraft and balloons · Stopped · Mitte

  6. 1 December 1984

    Michael Schmidt shot at Schulzestraße

    A 20-year-old carpenter used ladders from his worksite to climb into the border strip at Schulzestraße; shot in the back and knee, he waited almost an hour for an ambulance and died in hospital.

    Over the wall · Killed · Pankow