I have a question about the Wall. Were there any points along it that were relatively non-secure? I’m asking because I’m writing a story now and I want to have a bit about a woman trying to escape from East into West Berlin, circa 1988.
Were there any gaps where two people on either side of the wall could have a conversation easily (i.e., two lovers)? Could one of them easily slip across to the other side?
Thanks…
From what I know, not really. On the West-German side, you could pretty much walk up to the wall at any point. But at the East-German side, there was a large fenced off zone that was under constant watchtower surveilance. This zone was some 100 meters wide, I’d say. Fully illuminated at night. Escaping was not easy, and most that tried to were shot in their attempt.
Two lovers talking through the wall? Impossible.
Thanks, Coldy. I seem to recall hearing anecdotes from Bowie’s era in Berlin at Hansa Studio (circa 1978-1980) when he wrote “Heroes” how people used to sneak across to visit friends. That’s where I got my idea from.
I see. Well, people tried to sneak across, but they were risking their lives. You’ll understand that this wasn’t a thing you did for a football match on sunday night: people only took the chance when they were out of options in East-Germany. Which, admittedly, was all the time of course.
Bowie’s OK, but he doesn’t seem to be an expert on Modern German History 
Yes, I realise that; that’s precisely the point I’m trying to make in my story. My question is whether there were any places where there wasn’t a gap between the wall, where something like I remember reading about could’ve happened.
While I’m not sure of the exact details, the wall did change over time and was in fact strengthened in 1979-1980. I believe this was the last change; but I don’t know exactly what it was or the period Bowie might have been referring to. I would think most people who got to one side or the other would try to stay; over a hundred were shot and a few thousand arrested in the restricted zone.
One other thing is that the wall did not coincide with the border; signs indicated the actual border in some places and those approaching from West Berlin could be arrested for crossing too close to the wall.
For an excellent movie that many feel captures the way Berlin was with the wall, see Wim Wenders’ Der Himmel Ueber Berlin, released (in the US) as Wings of Desire. It seems to be available in many places since it (along with Wenders’ other ‘angel’ movie, In Weiter Ferne, So Nah! (Faraway, So Close!) provided some inspiration for City of Angels. There is a scene showing how the wall was set up then, too.
panama jack
“If I could stay, then the night would give you up” - U2
Hmm, okay, thanks. So, I guess Coldy and I were both right: Bowie’s anecdotes were probably accurate, considering the time (late 70s). I want to set my story in 1988, right before the Wall came down, so it’s probably going to be a stretch to find a place where two people can easily talk and one can logistically attempt a crossing (I’m more concerned about the talking part, anyway, since the crosser’s not going to make it successfully).
Monfort I’m not an expert on the Berlin Wall but IIRC there might have been something like what you discribe in the early days of the BW. However, in the time frame you’re talking about, 1988, there would be no unsecure or even “relatively” unsecure portions of the wall.
Most of the ground before the wall on the East German side was tilled and planted with landmines as well as patroled. The only areas of the wall that weren’t mined were the access points, ie. roads and rail, and these had heavily manned checkpoints. I really don’t think any place existed where one person could talk to another through the wall.
Sorry it’s not much help.
No, sadly, it’s not. But, that’s what editing’s for.
snip Berlin Wall story /snip
I was really hoping to use it, too. 
I know East Berliners weren’t generally allowed to visit West Berlin, but were West Berliners allowed to visit the East? After all, the whole purpose of the wall was to keep the East Berliners from leaving, so what did they have to lose by letting the West Berliners in for a visit? I know that Americans were allowed to visit East Berlin (and to leave again, of course).
West Berliners (and other Germans) could visit the east relatively easy.
There was of course the East Bloc Standard Paperwork to handle, and you had to exchange a given amount of currency pr. day at a preposterous “official” rate - East Germany was starved for hard currency. This made crossing the border somewhat expensive.
Leaving again, the primary concern was verifying that you were indeed who you claimed to be and that you didn’t smuggle anyone out with you.
But except for visiting family and perhaps making a one-time visit to see what life was like on the other side, there was no real reason to go East. The “black” exchange rate made your D-marks go far, but goods were generally speaking inferior and hard to get, anyway. The East Bloc service level was low indeed, so while eating out etc. could be done very cheaply, the experience wasn’t always that enjoyable. When it came to culture, however - museums, opera, theatre, classical music etc. - the level was very high indeed, if one could overlook the political slant in work selections and the like.
I seem to have rambled on - what was the question ?
S. Norman
A bit of directional confusion there.
East Germans were normally only allowed to leave under the stipulation that they return a) when they were retired, b) for extreme family reasons (funerals, etc.) subject to official (arbitrary) approval, and obviously c) on state and state-approved business.
They was also the possibility to apply for official leave to emigrate. This was however a very arduous process and often resulted in the arrest of the applicant or at least the loss of their social/work position. I met one such person who had to serve a one-year term (for some made-up charge) and was then given his freedom to leave for the West. Quite a price to pay, and if he only knew that the border would disappear in a few years’ time!
The wall itself was practically impermeable. And don’t forget, it wasn’t just the wall around West Berlin. It was a fenced-off border area all around East Germany, hundreds of km if not well over a thousand km long. The only ones to make it over after 1961 (the building of the wall between the Berlin sectors) were very inventive and daring. One family made it over in a handmade balloon! Most who tried didn’t live to talk about it, though.