Helena Merriman

When the wall was first built, did people panic?

When the wall was first built, did people panic?

Including digging underneath the wall. We're going back on tour this November to Austin, Tucson, Boulder, Portland, Detroit, Madison, Northampton, and Atlanta. If you've never seen a Criminal Live show before, it's not like a live taping of an interview. It's a real show.

Including digging underneath the wall. We're going back on tour this November to Austin, Tucson, Boulder, Portland, Detroit, Madison, Northampton, and Atlanta. If you've never seen a Criminal Live show before, it's not like a live taping of an interview. It's a real show.

Nine brand new stories, specially chosen because they're fun to share in a room full of people, with music, photos, videos, and animations. We can't wait. You can find out more information at thisiscriminal.com slash live. See you soon.

Nine brand new stories, specially chosen because they're fun to share in a room full of people, with music, photos, videos, and animations. We can't wait. You can find out more information at thisiscriminal.com slash live. See you soon.

Engineering student Joachim Rudolph was six years old at the end of World War II. His family had a farm in the eastern part of the country. But when Russian soldiers invaded their town, they made their way to East Berlin. Helena Merriman interviewed him in 2018.

Engineering student Joachim Rudolph was six years old at the end of World War II. His family had a farm in the eastern part of the country. But when Russian soldiers invaded their town, they made their way to East Berlin. Helena Merriman interviewed him in 2018.

His father had been sent to a Russian gulag and had died there. And Joachim had been a part of the anti-Soviet protests in East Berlin. But after the Berlin Wall went up, he didn't have any plans to try to get out. All his friends are there.

His father had been sent to a Russian gulag and had died there. And Joachim had been a part of the anti-Soviet protests in East Berlin. But after the Berlin Wall went up, he didn't have any plans to try to get out. All his friends are there.

He and another friend look for a place along the border where they might be able to sneak across. They found a place outside of the city that looked less guarded and waited for a cloudy night. They crawled through a field for hours, avoiding being spotted by border guards, and crossed a river, reaching West Berlin. Joachim went to a refugee camp, and then a CIA safe house.

He and another friend look for a place along the border where they might be able to sneak across. They found a place outside of the city that looked less guarded and waited for a cloudy night. They crawled through a field for hours, avoiding being spotted by border guards, and crossed a river, reaching West Berlin. Joachim went to a refugee camp, and then a CIA safe house.

He eventually enrolled at a technical university in West Berlin. But life there wasn't easy.

He eventually enrolled at a technical university in West Berlin. But life there wasn't easy.

It was some of those friends who knocked on his door one night to ask if he wanted to help other people escape from East Germany. They were planning to dig a tunnel.

It was some of those friends who knocked on his door one night to ask if he wanted to help other people escape from East Germany. They were planning to dig a tunnel.

They came across a factory building that made cocktail stirrers. It seemed like it could work. But they needed a way to access the cellar. So they told the owner they were a jazz band looking for a place to practice.

They came across a factory building that made cocktail stirrers. It seemed like it could work. But they needed a way to access the cellar. So they told the owner they were a jazz band looking for a place to practice.

This is audio from Inside the Tunnel, recorded by NBC in 1962. Joachim and his friends had made a secret agreement with the network. NBC could film them digging in exchange for money, for tools and wood and supplies, and to pay workers to dig 24 hours a day.

This is audio from Inside the Tunnel, recorded by NBC in 1962. Joachim and his friends had made a secret agreement with the network. NBC could film them digging in exchange for money, for tools and wood and supplies, and to pay workers to dig 24 hours a day.