Berlin Wall escapes required impossible choices between safety and freedom. You're standing in East Berlin, 1965. Your family is hiding in a ministry bathroom with an out of order sign on the door. In a few hours, you'll tie a nylon rope to a flagpole, throw it 120 meters over armed guards, and zipline to West Germany. If the guards realize what you're doing, you go to prison. If the rope fails, you fall to your death.

The border guards watched the entire zipline escape happen. They saw the rope thrown over the wall. They saw bodies sliding across above their heads. They never sounded the alarm because they assumed it was their own spy mission into the West, not an escape attempt out of the East. Students dug for five months, 11 meters deep, under armed guard towers with no idea where they'd surface. They popped up in an abandoned building and moved 300 people before guards figured out why everyone kept walking in but nobody came out.

Someone had to go first on that untested zipline. The father sent his child. The tunnel diggers were former escapees who came back, not for themselves, but to rescue 300 strangers still trapped. And the guards who could have stopped the zipline escape believed their own government was capable of that level of audacity, which is why a family made it across.

Topics: Berlin Wall escapes, East Germany resistance, tunnel 57, Cold War stories, political prisoners, escape attempts

GUEST: Dr. Lee Kuhnle | @‌theuncoverup

Originally aired on 2026-01-28

Berlin Wall escapes required impossible choices between safety and freedom. You're standing in East Berlin, 1965. Your family is hiding in a ministry bathroom with an out of order sign on the door. In a few hours, you'll tie a nylon rope to a flagpole, throw it 120 meters over armed guards, and zipline to West Germany. If the guards realize what you're doing, you go to prison. If the rope fails, you fall to your death.
The border guards watched the entire zipline escape happen. They saw the rope thrown over the wall. They saw bodies sliding across above their heads. They never sounded the alarm because they assumed it was their own spy mission into the West, not an escape attempt out of the East. Students dug for five months, 11 meters deep, under armed guard towers with no idea where they'd surface. They popped up in an abandoned building and moved 300 people before guards figured out why everyone kept walking in but nobody came out.
Someone had to go first on that untested zipline. The father sent his child. The tunnel diggers were former escapees who came back, not for themselves, but to rescue 300 strangers still trapped. And the guards who could have stopped the zipline escape believed their own government was capable of that level of audacity, which is why a family made it across.
Topics: Berlin Wall escapes, East Germany resistance, tunnel 57, Cold War stories, political prisoners, escape attempts
GUEST: Dr. Lee Kuhnle | @&zwnj;theuncoverup
Originally aired on&nbsp;2026-01-28

Shane Hewitt & The Nightshift is your late-night companion for real talk, bold ideas, and unfiltered conversations that matter. Hosted by Canadian radio veteran Shane Hewitt, each episode dives into the headlines, human stories, and hidden truths shaping our world—always with curiosity, compassion, and a sharp edge.

From politics and pop culture to mental health, technology, and everyday life, this podcast is where night owls, deep thinkers, and curious minds come to connect. Featuring expert guests, passionate callers, and Shane’s signature style—thoughtful, fearless, and refreshingly real.

If you crave meaningful dialogue, smart perspectives, and late-night radio energy in podcast form, subscribe now and join The Nightshift.

Shane Hewitt &amp; The Nightshift is your late-night companion for real talk, bold ideas, and unfiltered conversations that matter. Hosted by Canadian radio veteran Shane Hewitt, each episode dives into the headlines, human stories, and hidden truths shaping our world&mdash;always with curiosity, compassion, and a sharp edge.
From politics and pop culture to mental health, technology, and everyday life, this podcast is where night owls, deep thinkers, and curious minds come to connect. Featuring expert guests, passionate callers, and Shane&rsquo;s signature style&mdash;thoughtful, fearless, and refreshingly real.
If you crave meaningful dialogue, smart perspectives, and late-night radio energy in podcast form, subscribe now and join The Nightshift.

Shane Hewitt and The Nightshift

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. His ability to blend insightful commentary with humour and empathy creates a genuine connection with listeners.  Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift provides relatable content, informative discussions and expert insights – along with a balance of anecdotes and entertainment.

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. His ability to blend insightful commentary with humour and empathy creates a genuine connection with listeners.  Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift provides relatable content, informative discussions and expert insights – along with a balance of anecdotes and entertainment.