The border policeman Lutz M. fled to the West through a window at Bernauer Straße 1 on October 23, 1961. Serving duty on Ackerstrasse with another policeman, he found an excuse to move away from him. Lutz M. had already established contact with West Berlin policemen while he was serving duty on Ackerstrasse days before. He broke into an evacuated apartment on the first floor at around 9 p.m. and jumped to the pavement below. The police were waiting for him there and brought him to safety in a patrol car. His decision to flee had evolved over a long time. Two comrades with whom he was friendly had deserted before him. Lutz M. found border duty and the pressure to fire at people fleeing unbearable.