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Thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, BMW commemorates a remarkable story of freedom, ingenuity, and engineering prowess. The movie “The Small Escape” premiered on 2 October 2019 on YouTube and social media channels, celebrating the tiny BMW Isetta that played a crucial role in daring escapes from East Berlin.
Thousands of exhibits at the Berlin Wall Museum on Friedrichstrasse, Berlin, tell the tale of the city's division and the daring individuals who sought freedom. Among these exhibits, the smallest escape car ever used, a BMW Isetta, stands out. This bubble car was ingeniously modified by Klaus-Günter Jacobi, a tour guide at the museum, who recounts the story of his best friend, Manfred Koster's escape from East to West Berlin in 1964.
The Ingenious Plan
Jacobi's family had left East Berlin in 1958, before the Berlin Wall was erected. When Koster sought his help to escape the GDR, Jacobi devised a bold plan using his BMW Isetta. The moto-coupé, only 2.30 meters long and 1.40 meters wide, was an unlikely suspect for harboring an escapee. Jacobi transformed the car in his Berlin workshop, creating a hiding spot behind the seat bench, next to the engine. He modified the car by cutting an opening into the trim, shifting the shelf upwards, removing the spare wheel, heating, and air filter, and replacing the 13-litre fuel tank with a 2-litre canister.
The Small Escape
“The Small Escape” movie dramatically reenacts how the BMW Isetta became an escape vehicle and the perilous journey that ensued. Directed by Alex Feil, with cinematography by Khaled Mohtaseb and set design by Erwin Prieb, the film recreates 1960s Berlin in Budapest, capturing the tense atmosphere of the time. The set, complete with a recreated checkpoint, wall, and border strip, evokes the oppressive conditions that culminated in a triumphant escape.
On 23 May 1964, just before midnight, Jacobi's BMW Isetta rolled under the border barrier, successfully smuggling Koster to the West. This escape inspired others, leading to eight more successful escapes using similarly modified BMW Isettas. Today, the car is displayed in the Berlin Wall Museum, and “The Small Escape” movie is part of the museum’s permanent exhibit on dramatic escapes.
Symbol of Freedom
“Since their invention, automobiles have brought freedom and self-determination to humankind. Cars bring people together. This is something one should always also keep in mind in the current debate. The movie emphasises this. The moving escape story with the BMW Isetta can also be seen as a symbol of the invaluable value cars and individual mobility can have. It’s all about freedom, independence and dreams,” says Jens Thiemer, Head of BMW Brand Management.
Watch the Movie
You can watch “The Small Escape” on BMW’s YouTube channel and other platforms. The full story of Klaus-Günter Jacobi, his BMW Isetta, and the courageous escape of his friend is detailed on BMW’s official website.
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