information

Late in the afternoon on 13 August 1961 Manfred Wenzel is sitting by Teltow Canal. His goal is to get to Rudow on the other side. Manfred, a devout Christian, has decided that he does not want his children growing up in a state that builds walls and he dares to make a spectacular escape.

In 2011, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Wall going up, the rbb interviewed Berliners to find out what the division of the city meant to them. The Wall had a profound impact on the way each person went about their daily lives - no matter what side they found themselves on. Overnight people were cut off from their friends and relatives, from their offices, factories and schools, and from places where they enjoyed spending their leisure time. The division of the city tore families apart, ruptured biographies and claimed many lives.

locations

• Berlin, Teltowkanal bei Rudow

  showtime

  1

  latitude

  52.45810145

  longitude

  13.46331596