25 years - without me

Freedom August 13, 1986

25 years ago today they built that monster.

It devastated families and communities, a whole society.

Today was my official release day from Stasi prison back to home.

Instead I stand here and celebrate my freedom with new friends and new hope.

Still with a sad heart as I miss my family and friends so very much.

Will I ever see them again?

This spot, in the farthest Southwestern part of Germany connects France, Switzerland and West Germany.

When I cross the borders, sometimes several times daily, they don't even stop or control us here.

This is what I spent the last 16 months in the Stasi prison for.

13-August 1986. Me, celebrating my freedom with friends on the 25th anniversary of the building of the wall. In the distance the Swiss Jura mountains.

Freedom to live.

Freedom to develop into the person I want to become.

I will spread my wings and grow them, I will earn this liberty.

I promise!

 

Jens Thieme still lives in Switzerland today.
He works as a B2B marketing executive, has written the poem collection “Kopfgeburt” and the short story book “M.O.”. Jens also is a passionate hobby photographer and he shares some world views in his blog “The Late Night Files”.

*Third party image sources

*Testimony -> Start. This blog entry is part of a linear narrated testimony of the contemporary witness Jens Thieme who was imprisoned 1985-1986 as a political prisoner in various GDR prisons by the GDR Ministry of State Security. Stasi prison, Stasi jail, Stasi detention.