The Berlin Wall was built in 1961 by East Germany to stop people from leaving to the West. It divided East and West Berlin and became a symbol of the Cold War. For almost 30 years, it kept families apart and limited people's freedom. On November 9, 1989, the Wall was taken down after many protests and changes in politics. Its fall led to the reunification of Germany and the end of the Cold War.
BERLIN WALL ESCAPES
When the Berlin Wall existed, many people in East Berlin tried to escape to the West to find freedom. They used different methods, such as digging tunnels, climbing over the wall, flying in hot air balloons, or hiding in cars. These attempts were very dangerous, and some were caught or killed. However, many managed to escape, showing their strong hope and courage.
Why to escape?
Germans wanted to move from East to West to escape the strict control and lack of freedom under the communist government. The West offered better living conditions, more personal freedoms, and greater economic opportunities.
the airplane theory
One famous story tells of an East German man who secretly built a small airplane to escape over the Berlin Wall. He used limited materials and worked in secret to avoid detection by the authorities. His plan was risky, but flying over the Wall gave him a chance to reach freedom in West Berlin. This daring idea shows how far people were willing to go to escape the strict control of East Germany.
hot air balloon escape
In 1979, two East German families made a bold and creative escape by flying over the Berlin Wall in a homemade hot air balloon. They spent months secretly gathering materials like fabric and sewing them together to build the balloon, using a gas burner for lift.
their flight lasted about 30 min.
the main problem
The main problem of the Berlin Wall was that it restricted freedom. It physically and ideologically separated families, friends, and communities, and prevented East Germans from leaving to seek better opportunities or escape government control. It became a powerful symbol of oppression and the lack of human rights under communist rule.
jumping method
Some people escaped the Berlin Wall by jumping from buildings along the border into West Berlin, especially in the early days before the Wall was fully secured. These jumps were dangerous, but they showed the desperation and courage of those trying to reach freedom.
real footage
Real footage of Berlin Wall escapes was mostly captured by journalists and residents in West Berlin, where the Wall was visible. Some scenes were also filmed secretly or smuggled from East Germany, showing the risks people took for freedom.
first successful escape
The first ever successful escape from the Berlin Wall happened on August 15, 1961, when 19-year-old East German border guard Conrad Schumann jumped over barbed wire to reach West Berlin. His escape, just two days after the Wall’s construction began, became a powerful symbol of resistance.
TOTAL ESCAPES
Approximately 5000 people successfully escaped over, under, or through the Berlin Wall between 1961 and 1989. However, many others were caught, and at least 140 people are known to have died trying to cross the border. Despite the dangers, these escapes reflected the strong desire for freedom from East Germany’s strict communist regime.
