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Almost a year after the fall of the Berlin Wall, *Germany reunification* arrived – it occurred on October 3, 1990 – marking a monumental victory over the tyrannical grip of communism. This week, we commemorate 35 years since that historic moment. During the lengthy cold war, countless courageous Eastern Germans fought against the oppressive regime of the GDR, desperately fleeing to the freedom offered by Western Germany. One such brave soul is Renate Werwig-Schneider, whose astonishing escape was made possible when the RFA (West Germany) bought her freedom for a whopping price during a perilous time.
“I tried to escape the East twice, but they arrested me,” says Renate Werwig-Schneider, who in 1968 was released in exchange for foreign currency
From 1963 until the fall of communism, the Federal Republic conducted a controversial but necessary operation, purchasing the freedom of over 33,755 prisoners from the GDR’s horrifying prisons. Initially, this was done with cash, but soon escalated to trading essential goods — coffee, butter, even tropical fruits — showcasing the economic warfare against a failing regime.
“I have the date recorded in memory; on July 14, 1968, two Stasi officers arrived, and they told me that I was going to leave,” recounts the now 87-year-old Werwig-Schneider, as she bravely speaks out against attempts to *downplay* the dictatorial nature of the GDR.
Renate’s story is a stark reminder of the past atrocities and how far the fight for freedom has come. Historian Jan Philipp Wölbern reveals that the very first payment to secure the release of prisoners was an eye-popping 200,000 German marks, a clear demonstration of the lengths to which the RFA went to support the countless victims of communism.
The dark realities of life under communism
“I tried to escape from the east twice, but they arrested me,” says Werwig-Schneider, reflecting on the brutal tactics employed by the GDR to silence dissent. Her father’s commitment to his Protestant faith cost her dearly; she was expelled from the institute due to her ecclesiastical activities. The GDR’s tolerance for religion was as superficial as their grasp on reality.
- By the end of 1961, the Berlin Wall was a grim reality. Renate’s brother Reinhard executed a daring escape to the RFA, where they plotted their family’s freedom.
- The failed attempt in 1963 led to Renate spending two agonizing years imprisoned in a Stasi facility. The very act of seeking a better life was punished with incarceration.
- Her second attempt in 1967 was not without complications, involving whispers of negotiated freedom echoing through the dark corridors of communist deception.
“The Federal Government bought me with taxpayers’ money. I cost a staggering 100,000 marks at the time; a spy was exchanged for my release.”
Finally liberated in West Berlin, Werwig-Schneider dedicated her life to caring for children as a pediatrician, her boots on the ground in the battle for freedoms that many take for granted today. Her experience is an urgent reminder: if we do not remain vigilant, history has a way of repeating itself!
“I think I owe it to the new generations to share my story,” she says passionately, warning them that if they *neglect* their voting responsibilities, the rise of extremism could undo all their gains.
Werwig-Schneider’s accolades
For her relentless advocacy and incredible journey, she was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit, Germany’s highest civil decoration, proving that the fight is never over and that socialist ideologies must be fiercely opposed wherever they rear their heads.
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