"When bananas were imported once or twice a year, the queues stretched further than I had ever seen. My brother and I were desperate to get out. We'd hang around the checkpoints, hoping to befriend a West Berliner. Occasionally, they took pity and sent us packages. But escaping was rare and expensive. Most who managed it had paid thousands of marks."
"Tourists often came: they were required to spend a minimum of 15 marks each time they visited the east. With little else to buy, many opted for books or records. One day in March, two French military officers came in. As I chatted with them, I could tell they liked me. I thought they seemed like decent men so I said, Can you help me? Just that. They looked at me and said, No problem, and left."
In 1965, a 19-year-old lived in East Berlin where West Berlin appeared glamorous and goods were scarce. Food and consumer items were rare; bananas appeared once or twice a year and queues stretched long. The 19-year-old and their brother were desperate to leave and lingered at checkpoints hoping for help. After finishing school the 19-year-old took a job in a bookshop where tourists had to spend at least 15 marks and often bought books or records. Two French military officers offered to help, arranged a late escape, and the 19-year-old packed a passport and some jewellery, lied about going to the cinema, and hid in a car boot.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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