The Escape Tunnels Under the Berlin Wall
With the construction of the Berlin Wall in August 1961, the people of East Berlin were suddenly and unexpectedly separated overnight from their families, partners, friends, jobs, and places of study or school in West Berlin. As a result, many people attempted to slip under the deadly barriers through tunnels they dug themselves in order to reach freedom.
Image gallery
Berliner Mauer
In the immediate vicinity of Bernauer Straße—a key location for tunnel construction—the history of Berlin’s escape tunnels is recounted, and visitors are offered a glimpse into the only original escape tunnel from 1970–71—nine meters below the surface. This tunnel is accessible via a roughly 30-meter-long passageway built by Berliner Unterwelten e.V.
Following the tour, eyewitness Boris Franzke (born in 1937), one of the most active escape tunnel builders in Berlin in the early 1960s, will speak about his time as an escape helper. He was involved in the construction of seven escape tunnels, only one of which was ultimately successful. Despite the failure of many of his tunnel projects, Boris Franzke never lost hope or motivation—on the contrary: he persevered in digging, above all to help family members and friends find their way to freedom in West Berlin.
#mauerbau65
IN GERMAN
Additional information
Dates
August 2026
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