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Eight people escaped from East Germany to West Germany in a home-made hot air balloon.
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East Germany balloon escape
1979 crossing into West Germany
On 16 September 1979, eight people from two families escaped from East Germany by crossing the border into West Germany at night in a homemade hot air balloon. The unique feat was the result of over a year and a half of preparations involving three different balloons, various…Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
East Germany
Country in Central Europe (1949–1990)
East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from its formation on 7 October 1949 until its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on 3 October 1990. Until 1989, it was generally viewed as a communist state and described…Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
West Germany
Federal Republic of Germany from 1949 to 1990
West Germany was the common English name for the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) from its formation on 23 May 1949 until its reunification with East Germany on 3 October 1990. It is sometimes known as the Bonn Republic after its capital city of Bonn, or as the Second German…Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Hot air balloon
Lighter-than-air aircraft
A hot air balloon is a lighter-than-air aircraft consisting of a bag, called an envelope, which contains heated air. Suspended beneath is a gondola or wicker basket, which carries passengers and a source of heat, in most cases an open flame caused by burning liquid propane. The…Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)