Tunnel 29: Escape beneath the Berlin Wall - a podcast by RNZ

This year marks 60 years since the building of the Berlin Wall, appearing practically overnight on the 12th -13th of August 1961. It separated families, friends, lovers and even parents from their babies. The wall wouldn't come down for another 28 years, and during that time, at least 140 people would die trying to flee from East to West - but many more succeeded. Tunnel 29 tells the incredible true story of a group of university students who dug a tunnel right under the feet of Berlin Wall border guards, to help a group of friends and family and strangers escape. Journalist Helena Merriman first told the story in the hit BBC podcast Tunnel 29 and has now published a book called Tunnel 29: Love, Espionage and Betrayal: the True Story of an Extraordinary Escape Beneath the Berlin Wall. Named for the number of escapees they helped, it was the biggest and most audacious escape mission since the erection of the wall the year before. Kathryn speaks to Helena Merriman about the incredible heroism of a group of ordinary students.

Further episodes of Nine To Noon

Further podcasts by RNZ

Website of RNZ