How two families fled communist oppression in east germany in a. Harrowing flight from east germany the washington post. Wetzel and frank strelzyk hold open the neck of the balloon while the boys father aims a homemade flame thrower, connected to another propane tank, into the balloon to heat the air. The film is based on the true story of the strelzyk and wetzel families, who on september 16, 1979, attempted to escape from east germany to west germany in a homemade hot air balloon, during the days of the inner german borderera, when emigration to west germany was strictly prohibited by. In wetzels basement, the wives petra wetzel and doris strelzyk worked for months tightly stitching together an incredible 60footwide, 75foothigh balloon out of curtains, bed sheets. Families desperate to flee an oppressive government regime.
But after the balloon crashlands just before the west german border, the stasi find traces of the attempted escape and immediately launch an investigation. Peter strelzyk died in 2017 at age 74 after a long illness. How two families fled communist oppression in east germany. In the summer of 1979, the strelzyk and wetzel familieswho had been working on their audacious plan for more than two yearstry to flee east germany in a selfmade hotair balloon. In wetzels basement, the wives petra wetzel and doris strelzyk worked for. Herr strelzyk fled east germany on september 16, 1979. The film faithfully recreates the patchwork balloon built in secret by the strelzyk and wetzel families. Balloon is a german thriller that deals with the crossing of the inner german border of the families strelzyk and wetzel from the gdr to west. Film of daring balloon escape from east revives german. Peter strelzyk who fled east germany in a hot air balloon. Herbig said in 2018 that both the strelzeyk and wetzel families were dissatisfied with the disney film. On september 16, 1979, the strelzyk and the wetzel families from the southeastern state of thuringia flew to freedom in homemade hot air.
The strelzyk and wetzel families have been working on an audacious plan for more than two years. Gunter wetzel and peter strelzyk built a hot air balloon from scratch to escape from east germany with their families in 1979. In the spring of 1979, the strelzyk family from thuringen has hatched a plan to get. Among these dissidents weregunter wetzel left and peter strelzyk right, two factory workers from the small town of poessneck. Balloon 2019 uk trailer hd michael herbig about fleeing. Peter strelzyk and gunter wetzel ask just this one question when they come across. The film is based on the true story of the strelzyk and wetzel families, who on september 16, 1979, attempted to escape from east germany to west germany in a homemade hot air balloon, during the days of the inner german border era, when emigration to west germany was strictly prohibited by the east german government. Night crossing is a 1982 britishamerican drama film starring john hurt, jane alexander and beau bridges. Film of daring balloon escape from east revives german identity. With the wellbeing of their families their top priority, the two men sought a way to escape to the safety of west germany.
We couldnt just go and buy a load of cloth somewhere. Wetzel worked as an automobile mechanic and strelzyk opened a tv repair shop in bad. Man who fled east germany in a homemade balloon and whose. Families welcome ballon, a thriller about their 1979 flight from the gdr.