Am 06.01.2012 11:57, schrieb Paul Rigg:
I think his point was, and I think he is right, that the DDR authorities
allowed anyone to cross the wall who was either not one of their own
nationals or a national of another country (ie the Eastern Block) with
whom they had an agreement to stop travel.

The West German authorities did not check entries to West Berlin from
East Berlin, presumably because of the four powers agreement which said
that West Berlin was made up of British, American and French Sectors.

Nationals of anywhere outside the Eastern Block could arrive at
Schonefeld Airport and get a transit visa to Friedrichstrasse and cross
into the West there. If I recall it resulted in quite a few
Palestinians living in West Berlin at the time.

The astonishing thing is that Herr Schwanke does not put YOU on the
bank of culprits for stating the facts.

And in the fall of 1987, the Westberlin and FRG authorities with
their press waged a big campaign to force the GDR government to close
the last hole in the wall which you describe above.

Thanks for stating the facts!


Cheers,
L.W.