Tunnel 29: 1. The Escape

The Berlin Wall’s construction in 1961 abruptly severed social and familial ties, transforming ordinary city streets into a heavily guarded, lethal border. Joachim Rudolph, a young engineering student, experienced this division firsthand after the East German government sealed the border to prevent mass emigration. Faced with the loss of personal freedom and the threat of state surveillance, Rudolph eventually chose to defect, navigating a harrowing escape through the countryside and across a river under the constant threat of armed border guards. This narrative highlights the human cost of the Cold War, illustrating how the sudden imposition of the "Iron Curtain" forced individuals to make life-or-death decisions, ultimately leading many to risk everything for the prospect of life in the West.