Welcome to
“Choke Point”
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“Choke Point”
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The story of a border train station—
and the story of two people.
and the story of two people.
On location, Grenzwandler turns the train station into a walkable movie.
Online an excerpt is available.
For the best experience, please turn on the sound now.
Online an excerpt is available.
For the best experience, please turn on the sound now.
All that waiting, those six weeks.
Will it be approved?
Will it not be approved?
Will it not be approved?
It was nerve-wracking.
I got into customs through my uncle. He had been working there for years.
When I didn’t know what to do after my military service, he told me they were hiring.
Well, then I accepted the job and started working there in 1978.
And so I made my way to the train station with my two suitcases and set off on my journey.
Fully aware that I would not return.
First thing at the start of the shift, you had to pick up your weapon. You always kept it with you.
And then there was always a short briefing first.
Who was in charge of controlling the locomotive and so on.
Who was in charge of controlling the locomotive and so on.
There were an incredible number of people at that train station.
And I felt like I was the new kid on the block.
I have to say, I was one of the best transit inspectors.
Whenever there was an issue, they'd always call me over and say, “You've got to handle this.”
My primary role there was as an X-ray inspector.
My second job was as a transportation inspector.
My second job was as a transportation inspector.
The mode of transportation was the railroad.
So we would walk around the train and have the engineer demonstrate the locomotive to us.
I still remember how the dogs were led along the trains.
When the customs officers or police used those long poles to probe the empty spaces inside the train cars.
There were x people in that compartment. And probably one suitcase per person. I had two.
Yes, two of them were mine. Everyone else had to get out, and then they opened the suitcases.
"Not seasonally appropriate clothing" is what they wrote. I must have packed a summer dress.
If there was anything special, it was rewarded.
Once I found 10,000 marks in the exports.
And I was also lucky enough to find people hiding in the ceiling hatch. There were two of them.
They didn't say much. Close the suitcase. Come with us.
And then I was off the train.
That was the end of our job. I don't know what happened after that.
They didn't let us see their hand either.
Suddenly, I was gone. And no one knew where I was.
I was led through the courthouse in handcuffs and shackles. As if I was a dangerous criminal.
But that was probably exactly what people thought of me.
I was subsequently found guilty under §213, paragraphs 2 and 4, of preparing to attempt to cross the border.
And sentenced to 10 months imprisonment.
At the time, I saw it as just a regular job. That was our work, and we could make a living from it.
Which isn't always the case these days.
And then came the interview with Schabowski. And he said, yes, the border is open.
And then everything started to unravel.
Overnight, we were no longer welcome. That was the end of it.
Experiencing that made me stronger. I just had to accept it.
I don't think I had any other choice. But I think it made me stronger.
And then I’d been unemployed for a year. I looked everywhere for work.
Looking for work...
Well. I’ve hung in there until today.
Well. I’ve hung in there until today.
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