“It was in every part of life. ‘Big Brother’ is watching you and this was reality...”-Hans Shapp, 1

September 21, 2026

Rich Homeres and Bobbi Hamlyn

During the night of August 13, 1961, the East German government closed off the border from the West. Hans Shapp grew up in East Germany during this time and tells his story of suddenly being cut off from the West and living behind the wall.