The 1979 Hot Air Balloon Escape from East Germany
It was a cold, clear night on 16 September 1979, when two East German families—the Strelzyks and the Wetzels—stood in a secluded forest clearing. Above them loomed an enormous homemade hot air balloon, stitched together in secret over months of tense, cautious preparation.
For years, they had dreamed of escaping the clutches of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), a state notorious for its brutal surveillance and suppression of personal freedoms. But crossing the inner German border—one of the most heavily guarded frontiers in the world—was nearly impossible. Thousands had tried; many had failed, some fatally.
Yet, here they were, about to do the unthinkable—fly over the border in a balloon cobbled together with fabric bought in department stores and a burner made from repurposed household items.
They had already failed once. The Stasi—the East German secret police—was actively hunting for whoever had built the first, unsuccessful balloon found near the border two months earlier. Time was running out.
Now, standing in the dark, the families had no choice but to succeed.
Life Behind the Iron Curtain
By 1979, East Germany had long been a prison disguised as a country. While West Germany enjoyed economic prosperity and democratic freedoms, life in the East was defined by shortages, restrictions, and constant government surveillance.
The Stasi had built one of the most oppressive police states in history, employing over 90,000 full-time officers and nearly 200,000 informants to spy on ordinary citizens. Neighbours, colleagues, even family members could be informants, and a whisper of discontent could land someone in prison.
Defection was illegal, and the border between East and West was a militarised death trap. Along the 1,400-km inner German border, thousands of landmines, barbed-wire fences, guard towers, and heavily armed patrols ensured no one crossed without permission. The Berlin Wall was a stark symbol of this division, but elsewhere, the border was just as deadly.
Those caught trying to escape faced prison, forced labour, or execution. Families of escapees were punished, often losing jobs, housing, and even custody of their children.
For the Strelzyk and Wetzel families, the stakes could not have been higher.
The Plan: A Hot Air Balloon in Secret
Peter Strelzyk, an electrician and former East German Air Force mechanic, and his friend Günter Wetzel, a bricklayer, had been discussing escape plans for years. After rejecting other ideas—like building an airplane (too complex) or sneaking across the border on foot (too dangerous)—they settled on something audacious:
A hot air balloon.
Inspired by a TV programme about ballooning (or, according to another version, an article about the International Balloon Festival in Albuquerque), they believed that if they could soar high enough and fast enough, they might drift unnoticed into West Germany.
But how do you build a hot air balloon from scratch in a country where even small unusual purchases could raise suspicion? Pulling off a hot air balloon escape from East Germany wasn't going to be easy.
Constructing the Balloon: Fabric, Fire, and a 40-Year-Old Sewing Machine
The two families needed an enormous amount of fabric—800 square metres—to build a balloon large enough to lift eight people. But in a small town like Pößneck, buying so much material at once would attract attention.
To avoid this, they travelled to different cities, buying rolls of cotton cloth under the false pretense of lining tents for a camping club. They spent 2,400 East German marks on the first batch of fabric, only to discover, after months of effort, that cotton was too porous and leaked air.
Realising they needed airtight synthetic fabric, they drove 160 km to Leipzig, claiming to be members of a sailing club needing fabric for sails. Despite their fears, no one questioned the purchase.
Over several weeks, Wetzel’s wife sewed together hundreds of fabric panels on a foot-powered 40-year-old sewing machine, working in secret. Eventually, they upgraded to an electric motor, drastically reducing the time needed to stitch the fabric into the enormous balloon shape.
Meanwhile, Strelzyk built the gondola—a light but sturdy frame with a sheet metal floor and clothesline sides—and the burner system, which was assembled from:
• Household propane gas bottles
• Hoses and pipes from home appliances
• A nozzle and a piece of stovepipe
This jury-rigged system had to be powerful enough to keep the air inside the balloon at 100°C—hot enough to generate lift.
They tested it in a hidden forest clearing near the border. Their first two attempts failed. Either the balloon wouldn’t inflate properly, or the burner wasn’t strong enough.
After months of experimentation, they finally got the design right.
But on 3 July 1979, when the Strelzyks attempted their first real escape, the weather betrayed them.
First Escape Attempt: A Brush with Disaster
At 1:30 AM, the Strelzyk family—Peter, his wife Doris, and their two sons—lifted off under cover of darkness.
At first, everything seemed to work. They climbed to 2,000 metres, carried by a gentle breeze towards the border. But then, disaster struck.
Moisture in the clouds condensed on the balloon’s surface, adding weight. It began descending too soon. The family landed 180 metres short of the border, dangerously close to minefields and guard patrols.
Terrified, they spent nine hours crawling through the restricted zone, dodging detection before making their way home.
Meanwhile, the Stasi discovered the abandoned balloon and launched a full-scale investigation. The families knew their time was running out. If the authorities connected the balloon to them, they would be arrested.
Their only option? Try again, quickly.
The Second Attempt: A Night of Terrors and Triumph
With the Stasi closing in, they built a third, even bigger balloon, purchasing fabric all over East Germany in small amounts to avoid suspicion. They worked faster, harder—sewing, welding, modifying—knowing this was their last chance.
On 15 September 1979, under the cover of a violent thunderstorm, they set out again.
This time, both families were on board.
At 2:00 AM, the balloon lifted off.
Within moments, a tether failed to cut evenly, causing the balloon to tilt. The flame shot up the fabric, igniting a fire. They had planned for this—a fire extinguisher put it out.
Then, at 2,500 metres, a tear in the balloon caused them to lose altitude rapidly. Wetzel had to relight the burner multiple times with a match as they fought to stay airborne.
At 3:00 AM, their propane ran out, and they crash-landed in an open field.
Had they made it?
Then they saw West German police officers in an Audi.
“Are we in the West?” they asked.
“Yes, you are.”
Their desperate gamble had paid off.
Life in West Germany: The Strelzyks and Wetzels Start Over
Upon landing safely in Naila, Bavaria, the two families were warmly received by West German authorities. Unlike many Cold War refugees, they did not have to spend time in a processing camp. Instead, they were quickly given citizenship, financial assistance, and housing.
While the escapees were adjusting to their new lives in West Germany, the Stasi was hunting for revenge on those left behind. The East German regime tightened security, increased repression, and sought ways to punish those connected to the escapees.
Immediate Reactions: Shock, Celebration, and Crackdown
As news of the daring escape spread, it made headlines across West Germany and beyond. The media celebrated the ingenuity of the escape, with many West Germans viewing it as a symbol of hope in the Cold War struggle against Communist oppression.
But in East Germany, it was a source of national embarrassment. The regime had worked hard to portray itself as impenetrable, boasting one of the world’s most advanced security systems. Yet, eight people had floated over the border in a homemade balloon—something that was never meant to happen.
Stasi’s Response: A Ruthless Investigation
The East German Ministry for State Security, or Stasi, launched a major investigation within hours of discovering the abandoned balloon. The priority was to find out who had built it and whether there were accomplices still in East Germany.
A special task force was assigned to piece together the details, using forensic analysis to determine:
Where the balloon materials had been purchased
Who had access to the knowledge to build such a craft
Whether more people were planning similar escapes
The Stasi released sketches of the recovered equipment—the burner, the gondola, and the torn fabric—urging citizens to report anyone who might have built it. They even analysed the sewing techniques used on the fabric, hoping to trace the purchase of thread and cloth to specific individuals.
While the escapees were now safely in the West, their family members in the East weren’t as fortunate.
Relatives Targeted and Imprisoned
The Strelzyk and Wetzel families were beyond the Stasi’s reach, but their relatives were not.
Erich Strelzyk, Peter’s brother, was arrested just three hours after the escape.
Maria Strelzyk, Peter’s sister, and her husband were also detained and interrogated.
All three were charged with “aiding and abetting escape”, even though they had no knowledge of the balloon plot.
Erich was held in Stasi custody for months.
Maria and her husband were sentenced to 2.5 years in prison under the GDR’s strict anti-defection laws.
They were eventually released due to international pressure, particularly from Amnesty International, which often campaigned for political prisoners in Eastern Bloc countries.
Border Security Tightened
To prevent another airborne escape, the East German government immediately tightened security measures:
Increased Patrols – More guards were stationed along the border, especially in rural areas.
Ban on Large-Scale Fabric Sales – After discovering that ordinary shop-bought material had been used to make the balloon, authorities restricted the sale of large amounts of taffeta, nylon, and other light synthetic fabrics.
Tighter Control of Propane Tanks – Gas canisters, like the ones used to power the balloon burner, were now registered items that had to be accounted for.
Small Airports Closed – The GDR government feared that others might steal planes or attempt aerial escapes, so small, local airfields near the border were shut down or heavily monitored.
Media Frenzy: Their Story Goes Global
The families immediately became celebrities.
Stern magazine secured exclusive rights to their story, providing them with a financial boost to start their new lives.
The families were interviewed by West German and international media, fascinated by the details of their daring escape.
Their story was picked up by film producers, leading to the creation of the Disney movie "Night Crossing" (1982).
Careers and Adjusting to Freedom
Peter Strelzyk opened a TV and radio repair shop in Bad Kissingen, West Germany.
Günter Wetzel found work as an automobile mechanic, focusing on truck repairs.
Although they were free, life in West Germany wasn’t always easy.
They had to learn how to navigate a capitalist economy, after years of being in a centrally controlled system.
Adapting to Western culture was a challenge, especially after a lifetime of East German propaganda.
The media attention also became overwhelming, and the Strelzyks eventually moved to Switzerland in 1985, seeking more privacy.
Reunification and the Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989-1990)
When the Berlin Wall finally fell in 1989, the families witnessed history come full circle.
With the GDR collapsing, Peter and Doris Strelzyk returned to Pößneck in 1990, walking once more through the streets of the town they had fled. For the first time in over a decade, they could visit relatives without fear.
The Wetzels chose to stay in West Germany, having fully settled into their new lives.
After German reunification in 1990, thousands of Stasi files were declassified. Peter Strelzyk requested to see his file—what he found was shocking.
The Stasi had built a detailed case against them, planning to arrest them even before their escape.
Multiple informants had been watching them, but no one had pieced together the full extent of their plan.
Legacy: Hot Air Balloon Escape from East Germany now on Display
Today, their incredible escape is celebrated as one of the most daring Cold War defections.
In 2017, the original escape balloon was put on permanent display at the Haus der Bayerischen Geschichte: Museum in Bavaria, allowing visitors to see firsthand the handmade fabric that carried them to freedom.
Their story was retold in Balloon (2018), a German-language film that both families supported, as they felt it was a more accurate depiction than Disney’s version.
On October 11, 2017, Peter Strelzyk passed away at the age of 74, after a long illness. Despite the hardships and risks he faced, he lived the rest of his life as a free man—something he had once been willing to risk everything for.
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