How 2 Families Escaped East Germany In a Homemade Balloon

[@WeirdHistory]

If you need help falling asleep, click the link: app.adjust.com/b8wxub6?campaign=weirdhistory_january&adgroup=youtube - the first 100 people to download Endel will get a free week of audio experiences.

[@misterhat5823]

Mid-roll ad? Thumbs down.

[@rungsukburanarungsuk8816]

No, thank you. In KZbin it has a lot of free positive energy musics that make us sleepy.

[@bradleemarcy6523]

@@misterhat5823 glad I'm not the only who finds this annoying.

[@josefstrauss9017]

My teacher in 10th grade (Philip) actually went with us to Berlin and he told us that story before. In one of the biggest coincidences he (and us) met one of the brothers in a Café. He was fixing some lights there since he works as an electrician now. Super down to earth (no pun intended) and cool guy, we talked quite a lot with him.

[@187mrsmith]

Who else randomly came across this channel an been watching ever since!

[@rogerdarthwell5393]

me

[@kenken471]

Me. I have been watching this channel for almost 2 years now.

[@carolmcbride7552]

😊Me

[@furriescringe2988]

me

[@beatrizdejesus4751]

Me

[@JackalX111]

My best friends ex-wife escaped east germany as a small child (along with her toddler sister) by riding/hiding in the wheel bogie of a passenger train in the dead of winter. She freaked out on the last scene of the movie Fury we we saw it in the theater because it reminded her of when they got to the border a border guards dog found them hiding & the guard shown his light on them in their hiding spot. She said the border guard took pity on them & pulled the dog out, smiled & left. She said that guard saved their lives (to recount, she wasn't even 10 years old & had a toddler with her).

[@jinpachibobochan3532]

Good guard!

[@gigilaco]

Good guard!!

[@Danny-pi1xh]

Incredible what humans are capable of when you’re forced

[@JohnSmith-rw2yn]

East German and East Berlin is such a fascinating topic. Apparently if you look at Berlin from above at night you can see areas of East berlin aren't as bright as it hasn't been modernised STILL as much west Berlin.

[@mojifan4984]

Yes it's true

[@chipmunkhunt]

I remember the difference in lighting when I flew out of Berlin for my last time in 87. Did a 3 year tour there

[@notfiction9241]

I found that the 2 sids of Berlin have very different vibes, that east Berliners have a more easy going and bohemian feel.

[@maxdarko5636]

thats not right. its the color of the lights that are different from each other, not the brightness.

[@kellimihalic116]

What a story of heroic, determined people willing to sacrifice everything for freedoms we do easily take for granted!

[@RoccosVideos]

What a cool story. They were very resourceful but also very lucky. I’m glad they were able to escape. It’s too bad one of them wanted all the credit and glory.

[@andrewweaver2517]

The man with the golden voice strikes again!

[@fredlandry6170]

There was a movie in the early 80’s that I saw with my mom and dad about this story. It was called Night Crossing.

[@Hektols]

@Slow For this reason someone has to watch the whole video before commenting.

[@shadowchaser3836]

I saw that right before visiting Berlin in the 1980s.

[@bonniesass8265]

I recall hearing about this on the evening news reports on TV. I was 14 years old when this happened. The next year my brother moved to Germany 🇩🇪 my father’s birth place was Lubeck, and when the Berlin Wall came down another family member went there and brought back several pieces of the wall and handed them out to us.

[@sackettfamily4685]

My mother-in-law won a piece of the wall in her school. It's a prized heirloom now

[@BruceDanton-xw6eg]

Lubeck to rostock were either side then at least now they are not too.

[@tinas_hotdog_sophie]

I was born in January 1990 in East Germany, so I can't remember anything, but I am so glad I did not grow up there.

[@paulccrimmins]

Aloha 🤙 from Honolulu! Thanks for the great video. Having been stationed at McNair Barracks in Berlin during the cold War, believe me when I say it was a fascinating place in 1980

[@carmengomez3748]

I saw a documentary on this. It seems that after the first crash, the wife lost a bottle of pills with her name on it. A guard found it but he decided not to mention it to his superiors, knowing that the consequences would be terrible for this family.

[@ecclesiasticman4417]

This is in the Carbot Diablo 2 playlist.

[@redstratus97]

I watched a movie about this in 3rd grade. It’s amazing that I still remember it. I guess it made a big impact on me.

[@edwardteach8028]

Me too!

[@187mrsmith]

Hey creativeness is key to success Think outside the box or in this situation think outside the Ballon

[@nickd3157]

Savage! Love it! That truly is a piece of Weird History!

[@zach7193]

Man, that's something. It was escape or die trying.

[@williampalenik7306]

Congrats to the two families that escaped in the hot air balloon I was a teenager back then in 79

[@PrairieWolff]

Wow! What a fantastic story! You just never know about the Lives of others......

[@sethkaicer319]

Weird history is Never full of hot air.

[@LordWhatever]

Just here to let people know: This channel has the best narrator I've ever heard in KZbin.

[@bodge6886]

In 1980s I visited Berlin to run the marathon and of course I had to go to the checkpoint Charlie museum and there was the material used to make the ballon made from underwear silk. Also there was the bubble car used to get very short people out from the east and pictures of the MG that sped under the barrier which lowered the barrier. People can be ingenious when needs must.

[@KowboyUSA]

The family of Steppenwolf's singer John Kay managed to escape East Germany with him when he was just 4-years old.

[@tomperkins5657]

We lived in West Germany when The Wall came down. West Germany had been putting money aside for three decades to use when they were hoping the two Germany's would unite. When this happened, the West German authorites were shocked to see that those millions of Deutsch Marks would not even pay for the saturated pollution of earth and streams. Some factories would have huge pipes coming out and stopping in the middle of a field, dumping their used chemicals.

[@BruceDanton-xw6eg]

The west sure wanted the east back rightly so too. And so in 1990 of course it did too.

[@kayladawn]

I love how often you post another video! They make me very happy! I love learning ANYTHING 🤗

[@NewMessage]

And I can't even send up a paper lantern without starting a fire somewhere downtown.

[@lanternsown3525]

That's a Clean Burning Escape I tell You What.

[@adilsongoliveira]

This history was featured in the Whiterabbit series on Netflix and I found out to be amazing.

[@billnelson5870]

Bubba, watching your videos brings tears to my eyes. So proud of you! You the man, Bubba! You the man!

[@TheConorsmithusa]

Never heard of this story. I will check out that john hurt movie now

[@Dave-ip7hs]

Despite ads for sleep, nothing compares to the narrator and weird history

[@HelmetBoyEdits]

Night crossing isnt the only movie about this escape. In 2019 the german director, Actor and comedian Michael Herbig also made a movie about the two familys

[@tina.InTheSkyWithDiamonds]

Yayy, a history video about my home! It's crazy what people were willing to do in order to escape the GDR. There's another movie about that event called "Ballon" from 2018. I think it was released in the UK as well...

[@LS-us1jm]

Your home was a place that killed many people

[@gone_with]

Yes yes yes yes, that's the movie I watched last night. it was good, i liked it. some of the pics in this vid were from the movie.

[@fyreantz2555]

Unutterly badass...

[@gemeavx]

No idea why this was on Carbot Animations Diablo II Playlist?

[@PennieDeeStudio]

Never heard of this before!! Such an interesting story. This is why I love this channel so much!!

[@timornoscommovet1111]

There even was an episode of the east german children's TV show 'Sandmännchen', in which the main character arrived in a balloon. This episode got banned by authorities to be broadcasted in 1979 because weeks before, the two families fled with their balloon

[@Bernz66]

I remember reading this in Stars & Stripes when my dad was stationed in West Germany…… I visited east Berlin two times in the mid 80’s…

[@TheEbonyMystique]

The music in the beginning was giving me woman of mystery feels.

[@barbaragremaud3499]

Great story, thanks!

[@2014cwajts71]

If you haven't seen the movie Night Crossing I recommend it.

[@thespecialist2142]

One of many crazy escape stories! Tight rope walking on power lines, digging tunnels, stealing tanks, etc. Some daring escape stories connected to the Berlin Wall.

[@benisaten]

Great stuff. Good nod on the movie. Cheers

[@oneshotme]

Enjoyed your video so I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@robertsalvatore7967]

They made a movie about this called night flight.. 7th grade social studies teacher made us watch it. Great story!

[@gaylewinds4808]

Oh good, thank you! I came here wondering if I remembered the movie or if I only thought I did.

[@mikatu]

In the video they literally mentioned the movie, which is called Night Crossing!!!

[@harmonyhenry5051]

I hope he does a video about lost languages

[@aliencat11]

I remember this escape. These families were so brave and innovative.

[@alanstrong55]

Read about that daring escape in a magazine. Possibly Reader's Digest. I was proud of those families. The Stasi was mean to the bone. Glad that it worked. 😊😊

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

I bet that there are more fascinating stories like this during that era

[@amyfisher6380]

People needing help to escape from East Germany figured heavily in the early seasons of the original MacGyver, with an additional episode later in the series involving one family after reunification. These episodes seem terribly dated now, but so does the rest of the series; however, who can resist watching all the MacGyverisms play out?

[@Maverick_Zero_X]

There is another german movie about this story called "Ballon" that was published a few years ago in 2018 Haven't seen it yet but I did hear good thing about it

[@bea2323]

I remember enjoying it! should give it a go if you want to!

[@leonolson6770]

I've always wanted to know what happened that first day after they landed in West Germany. After the West Germany policemen (as depicted in the films) found the two families - what happened immediately next? Did they bring any ID with them? Birth Certificates? Any money? No extra clothes with them. Did they get taken into care somewhere? What happened next? That's a real story right there in itself - the rebuilding of their lives on the other side of the wall. Anyone know?

[@dave_sic1365]

There's a German interview with Mr Wetzel. After they landed the women and children hided in the forest and the men scouted the surroundings. They noticed smaller farming fields and that one farmer had a fendt agricultural transport which were rare in East Germany when a car approached them they saw it was an Audi and asked the policemen if this was west Germany. The policemen confirmed that and they started a Sylvester rocket after that the women and children came from the hideout and all traveled to the police station where they were congratulated for their successful flight. Apparently everybody carried identification documents and Job qualifications with them . Their Ballon is to this day the largest hot air Ballon produced and flown in Europe.

[@medassistph]

The 5th Dimension: "Would you like to fly in my beautiful balloon?" 🎵 East German: Ja.

[@theshenpartei]

Oh I heard about this from a Disney movie

[@amyschroeder6819]

Please don’t ruin this amazing channel with ads

[@nfk7225]

So if the one guy's sister had to escape, how/why did she just come back to visit with the article about balloons?

[@badgerman2229]

I watched the movie 3 times in my German classes and it's very intense the race against time to see who gets to their destination first the family or the police a very satisfying ending

[@ArcherSuh4721]

"The film starred two-time Oscar-nominee John Hurt and Mark Wahlberg's Max Payne co-star Beau Bridges..." Priceless.

[@timothydurkan]

.... let's hear about just one. Nailed it!

[@briand8335]

My parents were americans stationed there at the time. As I recall My dad mentioned that they found a man dead in a tree attempting the same thing. He apparently froze to death attempting the same feat.

[@furiousstyles1325]

Had to watch a movie about it in grade school. Night Crossing

[@auntvesuvi3872]

Thanks for this! 🎈

[@danielasarmiento30]

You guys should do the escapes from the tower of London

[@swaxTV]

By the looks of how things are going it’s not a bad idea to invest in a hot air balloon.

[@tedjones3955]

That one guy looked like John Hurt. Love the channel. Awesome episodes. Ok, I really have watch to the end before commenting. It was John Hurt.

[@peterquil282]

Lets hear about the escape from New York

[@asilver50]

I remember seeing the movie in 6th grade. I couldn't remember the name of it, but it was fascinating.

[@emeraldheart4504]

Wonderful story. Less joking would be better. A very serious and brave story.

[@schizoidboy]

The one escape I heard about involved a two guys with light fliers who flew into a park one early morning, picked up their friend, and flew him back to the West. They even video taped it happening.

[@Madrock7777]

So I was watching Carbot's DiabLoL 2 playlist and this was the next video after episode 43. I am confused, but entertained so not a bad night all in all.

[@davidgerow]

Very interesting story.

[@atribecalledjudah5436]

Can’t wait for the film.

[@delphidelion]

I am here because Carbot accidentally added it to his Diablol II playlist...

[@katiejones1795]

Somebody PLEASE explain to me how Wetzel's escaped sister in law came back to visit. I can't find it anywhere online my curiosity is killing me and I have to know the details PLS also great video love ur content 💕

[@katiejones1795]

@@Kpopcorn1970 thank you that is very insightful!

[@mikatu]

The wall was there to avoid people to escape from East to the West part of town. That meant that EVERYBODY from the West was allowed to enter and leave the East. Not the opposite, a few could still go there if they had a reason, but the family would be back as a way to ensure the person would return. For example, if they were playing sports or taking part in some kind of show. There are movies about that, where people from the West would go tour the East Berlin as a 3rd world country. A good movie is called Sonnenallee. Other movie is Kleinruppin Forever, where a boy goes to the East to play in a competition and decides to stay there.

[@juliushummer1069]

Tell us about home made plane to attempt flying out of east Germany. I have seen this place in a museum in Munich. It's a beauty.

[@jackrotz2139]

Well Peter was an air force mechanic as opposed to gunter who was a brick layer, so Peter's claims that he built the balloon were probably true but he was still a bit of a dick about it. Unless ofcourse it was a situation where gunter discovered his escape plan being friends and blackmailed Peter into a chance for his family to ecapse too, less gunter go to the authorities to fill them in on the plan How odd, you and your family escape the iron curtain with another, and the two of you part ways on sour terms, you'd think they'd celebrate together and be close, must be more to the story

[@BizarreHistory]

Because why not, escaping in a hot air balloon is a sound plan

[@TheSyd19]

I watched the film, very cool!

[@SiVlog1989]

In a documentary about the Cold War division of Germany, Peter Strelzyk summed up life in East Germany pretty well: "I couldn't travel where I liked, I couldn't say what I liked, if you told a political joke, you had to expect to go to prison. It was that simple,"

[@captainbacon5894]

You should make a video about the great escape

[@deborah6100]

Great channel! 💗

[@archidadk]

Can you please do more videos on the American Civil War?

[@HistorySkills]

Wow. I didn't know this.

[@ashleygardner6555]

I'd love to see a video on the picts if you haven't already done one!

[@bryanamaro9302]

Please do the martial law era in the Philippines.

[@violetblue1251]

The end tho 😂😂😂😂

[@steffiphill]

There’s a history special about the Berlin Wall and it talks about the different ways people attempted or did escape from the GDR.

[@thevolatilitywhisperer7616]

Wonder where the wall separating America will be. "That would nvr happen" Dem- hold my beer

[@Rockmaster867]

There is a movie about their escape. Alot of the pictures in this video are from the movie.

[@anikabutler8945]

Wow I’ve never caught a video this early!

[@thomasammendolia8056]

For a second I thought that was Ron Swanson in the thumbnail

[@goofoffchannel]

Can you do some Central American history????

[@gone_with]

last night I watched a movie about this. It was not the one that u talked abt, it was the one that u took some of the pictures from that were in this video.

[@betterthanwealth]

I remember that wall and when it came down

[@that_guy691]

I love this channel but when is the timeline series coming back I really enjoyed those

[@UATU.]

I kept wondering why John Hurt’s pics kept popping up until 10:56 😆

[@TheBLGL]

Everyone else in the comments: “Communism bad! Sponsors also bad! I’m capitalist but content creators don’t deserve to make a living, wah wah!” 😩 Me: Oh, look, they’re talking about the International Balloon Fiesta AND Breaking Bad in the same episode, yay for Albuquerque. And it IS fiesta, not festival.

[@sarapecha8297]

Do a video on Mildred Fish-Harnack, she was a member of the resistance in WW2

[@MegInWhispers]

lol the only time ziplining has lived up to the hype