Fall of the Berlin Wall, eyewitness: ‘I’d escaped in a car boot – then 24 years later my family were allowed out’
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Version 0 of 1. The 9th of November 1989 was the most fantastic day. Of course, I knew about changes taking place in East Germany and the Communist bloc, but everything happened so fast. I’d been living in London for 24 years and was working for a family to help raise my own. When I saw the first pictures of the Wall coming down on TV, I left my work as soon as I could and dashed home to call my family in East Germany. I am a Waldeyer, one of a very famous medical family in Berlin: grandfather, father, mother, brother and sisters all were, or are doctors. At first, they were incredulous – they had all been asleep and had no idea what was going on – but I convinced them it was true. Curiously, I was about to meet my sisters who were planning to leave Berlin, with permission for a brief visit to West Germany, go to Hanover, and come to England on secretly acquired West German passports. But the Wall’s fall changed that. At that moment ITV News called me: they knew about me from the story of my escape 24 years earlier and wanted an interview. I felt I had to give it, to express an instant reaction which I hope echoed the feelings of East Germans everywhere. How much better it would be with my sisters! And it was – they became the first people to fly to London legally on East German passports after the Wall came down. So my reunion with part of my family was briefly delayed but our sense of joy was increased by the short wait. It was an unbelievable time. Of course, there was still some frustration. My brother and brother-in-law both had tickets from Berlin to London to come and take part in a 45 minute TV programme, A Time and A Place, that was being made about these momentous events. This would have created an even greater family reunion. However the Berlin crowds were so massive that they couldn’t get through. They said it was crazy there. I could understand my people’s euphoria, but it was a shame. Gabrielle Paisoni shortly after her escape in 1965 Back in March 1965, I had been desperate to escape. Living in East Berlin was miserable: we non-Communists were all looking for ways to get out. I was just 19, with a job working in the International Bookshop, so I did often come into contact with Westerners. One day two French officers came in when I was the only one in the shop – you could never express your thoughts if there was anyone listening. I was playing a Beatles record, which I think attracted them. We got chatting and they soon offered to take me in their car, hidden in the boot, to West Germany. They came back two days later, and said it was now or never. That evening, I told my family I was going to the movies with my friend, a model. (It was true we’d arranged to meet.) I took my passport and a few jewels and left home without a word. I couldn’t tell anyone, although I was thinking of bringing my friend. But when I saw her walking elegantly towards me, some sixth sense said not to tell her – it could have ruined the plan. I slipped away unseen, met my French rescuers and they smuggled me through Checkpoint Charlie and away down the Berlin corridor to the West. It was a huge risk (I could have been jailed for many years) but thanks to their immunity as Allied troops, no soldiers stopped us, no-one searched us. I was free: I’ve never regretted it. |