{"id":13362,"date":"2021-09-17T18:21:23","date_gmt":"2021-09-17T18:21:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/?p=13362"},"modified":"2021-09-17T18:21:23","modified_gmt":"2021-09-17T18:21:23","slug":"how-two-families-escaped-to-west-germany-in-a-balloon-strelzyk-wetzel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/how-two-families-escaped-to-west-germany-in-a-balloon-strelzyk-wetzel\/","title":{"rendered":"How Two Families Escaped to West Germany in a Balloon"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s September 16, 1979. Germany is still separated in East and West. The Berlin wall has stood for almost 20 years. Germans live and grow up in two very different realities. One communist and supervised by the state, the other capitalist and free. Before the wall, things were easier. Many chose to leave their homes in the East behind to search for a better life in the other Germany, which saw an unprecedented economic upswing<\/a>. But now, with the wall in place, crossing the border to the West is a life-threatening undertaking. Border patrols have discretion to shoot anyone who attempts to cross the border. And yet, many still try to go. Also on this very day. Here’s the spectacular story of die F<\/em>lucht\u00a0<\/em>(escape) of the Strelzyks and Wetzels. In a hot-air balloon.<\/p>\n

Crossing the border with a homemade balloon<\/strong><\/h1>\n