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Photo documentation of the question of identity of a citizen of Yugoslavia [Socialist Federalist Republic of Yugoslavia] on September 8, 1989, 6:35 PM at the Checkpoint Friedrich-Zimmerstraße with Staff Sergeant [Oberfeldwebel] Naumann

Maker: Peter Bochmann; Unknown

Date Made: n.d.
Country: German Democratic Republic
Materials: photograph paper; paper; tape
Measurements: 30 cm x 21 cm x .5 cm; 11 13/16 in x 8 1/4 in x 3/16 in
Language: German
Genre/Form: document

Description

This is a very detailed case study of a woman who tried to cross into East Germany at the Friedrich-Zimmerstraße Checkpoint (Checkpoint Charlie) on September 8, 1989 at 6:35 pm. This document was likely used as an example to train students. The person in question was from Sarajevo. A border guard named Naumann found the difference between her passport photo and her appearance to be so great that he believed her passport to be fake, especially citing differences in the mouth, nose, and chin. Peter Bochmann, the specialist, agreed and and noted discrepancies in the form of the head and eyes. A second specialist named Lindemann agreed and determined that the woman's appearance and the passport photo were not identical. She passed the signature test and was also questioned. Final report of the situation: Naumann called in a questionable identity. She was in line ahead of the conductor for the train, who reported that she was agitated and disruptive during the ride. She looked considerably older in her passport photo than in real life, yet her identity was eventually confirmed and checked again by Bochnmann and Lindemann. She was accompanied by another woman from Yugoslavia, who spoke good German. They went through customs, and the two women had nothing to declare. The train conductor apologized for the situation. On the way to customs she became verbally abusive and said the border guards were acting like Nazis and compared the checkpoint to Auschwitz. The train conductor protested energetically and emphatically against such a comparison. She flew out of Schönefeld Airport on September 9, 1989 with the travel group from the Hotel Berolina.

Collection/Series: Peter Bochmann Border Guard Collection
Accession Number: 2017.015.058

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Final report of the situation: 
Naumann called in a questionable identity. She was in line ahead of the conductor for the train, who reported that she was agitated and disruptive during the ride. She looked considerably older in her passport photo than in real life, yet her identity was eventually confirmed and checked again by Bochnmann and Lindemann. She was accompanied by another woman from Yugoslavia, who spoke good German. They went through customs, and the two women had nothing to declare. The train conductor apologized for the situation. On the way to customs she became verbally abusive and said the border guards were acting like Nazis and compared the checkpoint to Auschwitz. The train conductor protested energetically and emphatically against such a comparison. She flew out of Schönefeld Airport on September 9, 1989 with the travel group from the Hotel Berolina.
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