Gerta Lowe Research Paper

Sunday, August 13, 1961 the day where Gerta Lowe and her family were separated. Gerta Lowe was an average girl with blonde hair and an average family living on the East side. However, one night is where it all changes. On the night of August 13, 1961 a wall was built dividing Berlin East and West Berlin. Gerta’s Dad and her brother Dominic set off on a trip to west berlin to try to find an apartment they could live in and a job for Gerta’s dad. They would be back in two days at least that’s what they thought. The wall was put up while her dad and brother Dominic were in the west leaving Gerta, her mother, and her older brother Fritz in the East. Many people try to escape but most failed dying in the process. It has been 4 years since the wall …show more content…
Gerta took it as a sign that he wanted her to start digging. After school Gerta had been told about what happened to Peter. Peter had died while trying to escape. Fritz had been suspected of being involved with Peter’s attempt to escape so the Stasi (the secret police force) took him away. The next morning Fritz was back home. Fritz had started writing on a piece of paper to be careful and that the apartment was bugged. He also wrote that the stasi had heard of his and Gertas conversation about peter. The stasi were listening so they had to be careful and sound happy. Gerta had went to school and to her surprise Anna was there she distanced herself from everyone else, even Gerta. Gerta tried to approach her but she told her too away. Gerta had tried to apologize but Anna got angry. Anna asked why Gerta did tell her, why she didn't stop him. Anna told Gerta that if she associates with her family Anna’s parents will be sent to prison. Anna can no longer be friends with Gerta. A few days later During class Anna slips a paper to Gerta. During lunch Gerta unfolds the paper to see a drawing of an old building. Gerta went to look for the building and found it.
The next day Gerta took a shovel too the building and found her way in. Gerta noticed that in the basement the dirt wall that is soft enough to dig and if she dug in that wall she would go farther into the death strip and end up …show more content…
Gerta tells Fritz about her plan. At first Fritz was against it but he eventually agreed. They start digging without telling their mother. Their mother leaves town to take care of their grandmother leaving them with some money for food. Fritz decided that they would use the money to buy necessary things for the tunnel. Eventually a Stasi finds out about their plan but agrees to keep quiet if they let his wife and baby go through the tunnel. The Stasis name was Müller. When Gertas mom comes back they tell her about their plan she was very against it and wouldn't allow them to dig any longer. But she agreed to help eventually. Fritz was supposed to join the military soon so they had to hurry. One night when they were digging they hear something. They hear the sound of digging they dug deeper only to find that Dominic and Gerta’s father were also digging. One night they Stasi come to pick up fritz but the tunnel is not done yet Gertas mother tried to stop them from coming in but they eventually got in. The Stasi searched the house and left gerta and her mother alone with a Stasi who was Fritzs friend. Gertas mom bribes him but it doesn't work he goes to check another room and Gerta and her mother escape. They made it to the building but the Stasi were following behind them. The tunnel was almost ready but there was no time before they found them. Müller was helping dig and created a small hole