How Families Escaped the East German Regime in the 1970s
Learn about how East Germans risked their lives to escape to the West.
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News •
Today in History: Berlin Wall falls after 28 years
• Nov. 9, 2026, 4:30 AM ET (Chicago Tribune)
Transcript
NARRATOR: In the late 1970s, East Germany’s propaganda machine wants to demonstrate the prosperity inherent in socialism. But the reality is very different. Every year, people risk their lives to make it across the heavily fortified border. In 1979 it is Peter Strelzyk’s turn.
PETER STRELZYK: "If you told a political joke, it was quite possible that you would find yourself in prison. Just like that."
NARRATOR: In the mid-70s, the GDR border is strengthened even further. It is a death-trap for anyone thinking about escaping. Those still determined to try have to find other ways. In the spring of 1979, the Strelzyk family from Thüringen has hatched a plan to get across the border in an aircraft.
DORIS STRELZYK: "The men had this idea of going in a balloon. So I said, 'In a balloon? But we don’t know anything about it.'"
NARRATOR: On the 3rd of July, 1979 their home-made hot-air balloon takes off towards the West. But their escape attempt ends after just a few minutes.
FRANK RIEDEMANN: "When we reached around 1,200 meters, the balloon entered a cloud. But that led to the shell becoming saturated and we lost altitude."
NARRATOR: Failure just 200 meters from the border. Border guards inform the state security service. The chase of the refugees begins. An entire department of the Stazi specializes in this. It is just a matter of time before they catch up with the Strelzyks. But they quickly build a second, bigger balloon. This time another family wants to join.
GÜNTER WETZEL: "We couldn’t just go and buy a load of cloth somewhere. That would have been deemed suspicious. So we bought the cloth in small amounts in lots of different shops."
NARRATOR: On the 16th of September, 1979, the families make their second escape attempt. From Thüringen they want to make it to Hessen. But again the GDR border guards notice the balloon.
EGON MATYASIK: "One of the border post commanders wanted to give the order to shoot. So he telephoned Berlin and he did receive the order to shoot, but the balloon was gone."
NARRATOR: The wind carries them around 25 kilometers towards the West. But just before reaching their destination, their balloon catches fire.
WETZEL: "We were lucky that the balloon was a bit oversized and so it worked almost like a parachute, which checked the fall a bit."
NARRATOR: The families and their four children reach the ground unscathed. This time safely in the West.
ANDREAS STRELZYK: "Of course we all ran together, met each other on the field and hugged. There was a huge cheer."
NARRATOR: The GDR state security makes meticulous notes in their records. Over 950 people die during their attempts to cross the inner-German border. But despite this the number of escapees is on the rise. To escape the oppression of the GDR state system, people continue to risk their lives.
PETER STRELZYK: "If you told a political joke, it was quite possible that you would find yourself in prison. Just like that."
NARRATOR: In the mid-70s, the GDR border is strengthened even further. It is a death-trap for anyone thinking about escaping. Those still determined to try have to find other ways. In the spring of 1979, the Strelzyk family from Thüringen has hatched a plan to get across the border in an aircraft.
DORIS STRELZYK: "The men had this idea of going in a balloon. So I said, 'In a balloon? But we don’t know anything about it.'"
NARRATOR: On the 3rd of July, 1979 their home-made hot-air balloon takes off towards the West. But their escape attempt ends after just a few minutes.
FRANK RIEDEMANN: "When we reached around 1,200 meters, the balloon entered a cloud. But that led to the shell becoming saturated and we lost altitude."
NARRATOR: Failure just 200 meters from the border. Border guards inform the state security service. The chase of the refugees begins. An entire department of the Stazi specializes in this. It is just a matter of time before they catch up with the Strelzyks. But they quickly build a second, bigger balloon. This time another family wants to join.
GÜNTER WETZEL: "We couldn’t just go and buy a load of cloth somewhere. That would have been deemed suspicious. So we bought the cloth in small amounts in lots of different shops."
NARRATOR: On the 16th of September, 1979, the families make their second escape attempt. From Thüringen they want to make it to Hessen. But again the GDR border guards notice the balloon.
EGON MATYASIK: "One of the border post commanders wanted to give the order to shoot. So he telephoned Berlin and he did receive the order to shoot, but the balloon was gone."
NARRATOR: The wind carries them around 25 kilometers towards the West. But just before reaching their destination, their balloon catches fire.
WETZEL: "We were lucky that the balloon was a bit oversized and so it worked almost like a parachute, which checked the fall a bit."
NARRATOR: The families and their four children reach the ground unscathed. This time safely in the West.
ANDREAS STRELZYK: "Of course we all ran together, met each other on the field and hugged. There was a huge cheer."
NARRATOR: The GDR state security makes meticulous notes in their records. Over 950 people die during their attempts to cross the inner-German border. But despite this the number of escapees is on the rise. To escape the oppression of the GDR state system, people continue to risk their lives.
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