The East German refugee and the border guard | 20 years after the fall of the wall

Bernhard Fey was badly injured trying to escape across the border in 1975. The border guard Lehmann was on duty that day. What almost cost Fey his life is for the other man the subject of incorrigible memories.

[@vladua1]

If he liked the regime I'm sure Venezuela and N. Korea will welcome him with open arms

[@HateTheIRS]

@Exiled Viking dude he commented 9 years ago

[@BackSeatHump]

Emigrating to another country is not a "crime", Lehmann - and there are many more reasons to flee than just earning more money.

[@aka_spetkov8230]

BackSeatHump so illegaly passing the border is not a crime?

[@MrManfly]

@@aka_spetkov8230 spoken like a true communist !

[@aka_spetkov8230]

moo cow I’m more of a right wing white nationalist but ok

[@jceepf]

@Dragomir Ronilac I am not trying to defend East Germany,which I visited in 1983 and it was a cage. but Americans here should know about J1 visas. I was a Canadian and I had a J1 visa for some crazy reasons when I was a student doing my PH.D. in Maryland. Normally students had F1 visas. (Because I worked 1 summer in Los Alamos, the A-bomb lab). The typical J1 holder was from a poor country who sent their students to the USA for advanced studies. Therefore the USA government would NOT allow the J1 holder to immigrate in the USA after his studies for exactly the reasons stated by that GDR border guard. In my case I had a J1 for very bizarre reasons, and I was able to prove that Canada did not give a $..t about me. So I eventually was able to switch from J1 to H1 and later to Green card. Now I live in Japan as a scientist.

[@HateTheIRS]

@@jceepf wow

[@uabsass4445]

I worked for 4 years in the 11th ACR which was responsible for this site. Many a night I sat in both the old wooden tower and the now concrete tower watching those East German guards like Lehmann keep people caged. I'm glad to know that Fey survived and returns to the cross at the camp which is now a memorial to freedom called Point Alpha.

[@Chris55433]

I was hoping the video was of the 2 men meeting face to face

[@asadini]

Seeing how the major is a stuck up prick; unlikely.

[@patrickdinwiddie6113]

That old guard may want to reflect on his eternal well-being. Enjoying what he did after the fact is sick.

[@Scout19d19d]

That was out post (OP) Alpha the American Border Camp near Fulda Germany. I was with the American 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment and patrolled the West German side for two years. I think the average was 5 crossings a month and that included at least two East German Border Guards, sorry MAJ Lehmann but you lost two of your own on your watch. I was there the night the wall came down and remember the look of apprehension on the faces of the East Germans. They didn't trust the Americans or people from the west but after talking with us they relaxed a little. The stories they told about the propaganda on their side shocked us. But for them they knew the truth, not sure how, but they knew. I would love to go back some day.

[@BelloBudo007]

Do you know if there were any repercussions for the families of those Boarder Guards who escaped?

[@hansdieter2923]

Bill Blinky I can't speak for the case Paul W mentioned. But repercussions were pretty common.

[@uabsass4445]

Paul W I spent 4 years there as well ('81-85). Despite being at the OP for 45 days at a time, I loved the duty and the West Germans we worked with (BGS and Zoll). In 1987, I ate at a German restaurant in Indianapolis and found out the owner was a former cook at OP Alpha. Small world!

[@tommy39100]

Greatest thing in the 20th century was the downfall of the Soviet Empire.

[@StephenWong14]

I don't care how much you like your country. You're free to stay there for however long you wish and others should have the freedom to leave. You should just mind your own business instead of murdering those who want to leave.

[@MarkEliasGrant]

Too bad the right wing doesn't get that is what people who flee their countries want when they migrate.

[@antonycarlyon7547]

The first time I travelled from the UK to Berlin by train, in 1996, I passed the site of the Iron Curtain at night and so didn't see it. But on the way home, it was broad daylight, and I remember glimpsing a broad weed-infested strip of land with the remains of guard towers, just to the east of the town of Helmstedt. One such tower stood quite near to the railway line, and right next to it was a branch of ToysRUs. The incongruity of seeing that has always amused me.

[@LebendigerGeist]

I feel like taking his old medals and uniforms and just burning it all in front of his eyes. What a sickening person that old border guard was. Proud of having imprisoned his own people and contributed to the forced division of his country. And still proud. Can you sink any lower?

[@markrl75]

You can buy all of those worthless medals and junk DDR memorabilia in Berlins flea markets. You to can have a chest like Leonid Brezhnev for a few Euro's.

[@lsq7833]

East germany called it "self firing devices", but technically speaking the SM-70 was still a directional anti-personnel mine, with 110 grams of TNT propelling 80 steel cubes projectiles. In his predicament, Fey was lucky to not have been closer to the mine, because it's designed to tear people to shreds.

[@daddybeagleaz907]

That's nothing less than diabolical. But my understanding is that they weren't used along the Berlin Wall for that reason. Just imagine the storm that would happen if they were, and one went off in front of tourists on the West Berlin side...

[@stevekoschak7111]

11th ACR 1974-1977. Also I was on border duty at OP Alpha when this incident happen on the border. Had taken pictures of it, but were later confiscated

[@johnkreider3860]

My hat goes off to the two men who made a run for freedom. They had more heart and balls then the POS major. SEMPER Fi Mr Fry

[@Benfleet1984]

Why hasn't that former guard been tried for war crimes?? The fact that he's shows aboslutley no remorse for the victims of this brutal regime is sickening

[@TheRichardSpearman]

War crimes? How about bringing to trial those in the USA who led the US intervention in the civil war in Vietnam, resulting in missions of deaths?

[@loke5551]

@@TheRichardSpearman nice whataboutism

[@hrv8008]

​@@TheRichardSpearmanNice diversion!

[@frederick-nrunkkamara103]

Thank goodness for reunification. People will always find a way to create a better life for themselves.

[@28anneliese]

Lehmann should have been locked up with the key thrown away. If he thinks it is so wonderful maybe he should volunteer for confinement in a zoo.

[@stap0510]

Sadly, East-Germany never asked itself WHY their own people fled their country. No questions asked, because they would like the real answer to it.

[@Rheinlander95]

Lehmann was just frustrated cause he wasn't getting any.

[@stevekoschak7111]

MrAllthatmore were you ever in the military. When you are assigned a post you never leave until you are relieved. So that East German guard could not leave his post. He notified his superiors of the situation. His superiors are the ones that waited to investigate the incident. So essentially he was just following his orders.. 11th ACR 1974-1977

[@AndroidGamesFTW]

steve koschak thank you finally someone who can think as a solider instead of a Monday night quarterbacker

[@stevekoschak7111]

Had pictures of the whole thing, but were confiscated

[@johannedufort5900]

But ... ... Is this EVER going to be over @AmazingPolly ???

[@rht785]

and now ex stasi chief markus wolff works for homeland security !!!

[@davidtrevino5211]

rht785 Makes you wonder who actually signed his paycheck way back in the day.. Wake up people. Two sides of the same coin... Always..

[@DoubleOddJosh]

I wonder how many of his fellow countrymen he shot and killed

[@johannedufort5900]

Duty ??? ??? 🤔 ... ... NO feelings ... ... No emotion ... ... !!!

[@BB-kt5eb]

God forbid they desire liberty.

[@RohanHarris]

i just realized why didnt the second gguy the concrete guy try building the wall

[@markrl75]

There is a certain amusing irony in this film.

[@1970volvo144S]

For those seeking retribution towards Col. Lehmann, I suggest you watch Shawshank Redemption again. Think about what Andy Dufresne, the main character, was giving to both the guards and his fellow prisoners. Everyone in the former GDR--guards, politicians, Stasi, informants, etc.--was part of the same oppressive system. To a large degree, everyone was a victim of coercive forces that forced people to compromise their values. They deserve our compassion--not just our harsh judgments.

[@GavrilisTsagarakis]

He tried to flee to West Germany in 1975 and then the female commentator says that after spending 2 years in prison he would need to wait more than 20 years for the Berlin wall to come down. Didn't the wall fall in 1989?

[@m.w.6526]

Yeah they can't keep theyre story straight. Propaganda. East Germany had the highest standard of living in the Eastern Bloc. My fathers side of the family lived in Dresden. I've never heard anything bad about living under the DDR government. Life was good.

[@grahamh1067]

3.5 million + people fled, but life was good?

[@gammaraider]

I'm going to be the unpopular voice here and try to see it from Lehmann's side, just to add some balance to the comments. That man served his country and his military for most of his life. Apparently with distinction. According to how he was brought up, according to what was expected of him by his family and country, he did great. It must be painful to him to see his old world disappeared, and his old ambitions and career become a mockery and source of contempt. So if that lonely old man wants to live his last few years, pretending his life wasn't a complete waste, that's okay with me.

[@drkjk]

+gammaraider Then he should live the rest of his days in a prison cell just as he helped imprison his countrymen.

[@Panzer-Geomancer]

gammaraider One thing bothers me. Did he actually kill people trying to cross the border.

[@jceepf]

I am not trying to defend East Germany,which I visited in 1983 and it was a cage. but Americans here should know about J1 visas. I was a Canadian and I had a J1 visa for some crazy reasons when I was a student doing my PH.D. in Maryland. Normally students had F1 visas. (Because I worked 1 summer in Los Alamos, the A-bomb lab). The typical J1 holder was from a poor country who sent their students to the USA for advanced studies. Therefore the USA government would NOT allow the J1 holder to immigrate in the USA after his studies for exactly the reasons stated by that GDR border guard. In my case I had a J1 for very bizarre reasons, and I was able to prove that Canada did not give a $..t about me. So I eventually was able to switch from J1 to H1 and later to Green card. Now I live in Japan as a scientist.

[@Vitorruy1]

It's all about money with those visas, they don't care about merit.

[@maddie1310ful]

Who was a puppet of the regime?

[@johannedufort5900]

What are the qualifyers of Liberty ... ... Equality ... ... Fraternity ???

[@TempleofBrendaSong]

Kingslaying

[@maddie1310ful]

Thanks to America and to Britain for this one! Cant believe we, being an Englishman myself could allow this to happen to the people of Germany, after fighting against a Tyrant like is alleged allowing more oppression to happen to innocent people! Shame on such countries which sacrifice people under their own rule for FREEDOM, its all a big con but we all stand by on KZbin leaving comments!

[@HayastAnFedayi]

maddie hughes Patton wanted to push the Soviets back to the Russia, but in the end the CIA and KGB had him killed for his efforts and “danger” to the deep powers in control...that’s right the Soviets and American Government wanted things the way they were in 1945 and not to change.

[@dokasaku1233]

old dude is really a hard die still believing in East germany

[@3506Dodge]

Just following orders.........

[@spikespiegel5878]

3506Dodge the Nuremberg defence really?

[@dieselscience]

North Korea will welcome you with open ... fences.

[@anarchybruh978]

What a Hero.. I salute this man.

[@kittycatwithinternetaccess2356]

the defecfors?

[@SuperOldShows]

The GDR was the last piece of dignity Germany had left. Germany now is a joke.

[@kittycatwithinternetaccess2356]

that ruskie puppet state was evil

[@andrewrobinson2565]

Did he ever "make it" to the West? Probably gone now... Good. Nazizeit (1933-45) DDR-Zeit (1949-89). Same-same but different...

[@1970volvo144S]

Take care not to judge. Everyone was part of the same system. Everyone, to large degree, drank the same political Kool-Aid. Coercion was a ubiquitous force. Otherwise decent people, who, ordinarily, would not have cooperated with the Stasi, were threatened with having their lives turned upside down. Granted, some may be more blameworthy than others. But why not focus on men like Honecker, Mielke, Krenz, and Schabowksi?

[@oakhart9977]

He would fit in with the Dept of Homeland Security or T S A in the United States.

[@johannedufort5900]

Money ... ... Money ... ... Money ... ... Makes peeps crazy !!! !!! It's a rich men world ...

[@johnnyscifi]

I totally agree with the border guard. East germany offered free schooling/housing!!!

[@spikespiegel5878]

johnnyscifi then that makes you apologist

[@samuelbcn]

West Germany had free education too! And the standard of living was miles higher than in the GDR. And more importantly they didn't have to imprison the whole population.

[@joanne9916]

Schooling is still free

[@tribinaaux4043]

samuelbcn if they didnt "imprison" them their economy would collapse

[@koikat3708]

@@samuelbcn There were no poor people.

[@stevekoschak7111]

That East German Border Guard was just doing his job. I guess if some of you don't like well tough. How many that post on this were actually in the military and a border guard. Spent 3 years doing border patrol.

[@PeterNgola]

+steve koschak If you were 11th ACR why would you stick up for him?

[@jonhart7630]

The Border Guard, "Grenztruppen", weren't part of the Military, and they weren't conscripted like the Army. You had to be a trusted Communist to serve in the Border Guard. I think in total there were about 50,000 Border Guards, which was a large number for a small country like the DDR. They were equipped and organised like Light Infantry Regiments.

[@brandenburg2388]

Too bad DDR has been consigned into the dustbin of history.

[@xxironballzxx]

wait i thought right-wingers didn't like communism? or are you a republican admitting communism did it better? whats you're answer comrade?

[@easternshock]

DDR: Meine Heimat fur allezeit! DDR: My motherland forever!

[@m.w.6526]

Long live East Germany, DDR!

[@ericbush3399]

Are you mad sporto? Making a "long live" declaration is of no consequence when you're already worm food.

[@grahamh1067]

you do realize East Germany no longer exists right? I'm sure you're just trolling here, but be a little smarter about it next time.

[@GavrilisTsagarakis]

He tried to flee to West Germany in 1975 and then the female commentator says that after spending 2 years in prison he would need to wait more than 20 years for the Berlin wall to come down. Didn't the wall fall in 1989?