THFxHistory: Flight LO 165 – A Hijacking to Freedom

Suddenly, Constanze Glien and her husband were faced with a life-changing decision: should they remain in freedom and leave everything familiar behind, or return to the GDR?

The documentary film (approx. 45 min) by Kathrin Schwiering shows how Tempelhof became a place that changed Constanze Glien’s life—and recalls the airport’s turbulent history: once a symbol of Nazi power, later a beacon of hope during the Airlift, and finally a U.S. military base during the Cold War.

Since its closure in 2008, the vast site has become a place of freedom in the heart of Berlin.

Constanze Glien grew up in East Germany and, at the age of 22, was brought to West Berlin by a hijacking she did not choose—where she ultimately decided to stay. She bears witness to the experiences of East Germans who, during the Cold War, were unexpectedly confronted with life in the West.

Kathrin Schwiering is an independent director, producer, and lecturer. Her work focuses on historical subjects and documentaries, personal stories, and abstract cultural themes.

Moderation:
Carolin Liebisch-Gümüş is a historian at the Leibniz Centre for Contemporary History Potsdam and currently researches the role of air travel in the history of refugee migration in the 20th century.