January 16, 2026
DIY or Die (Balloon Edition)
East Germany balloon escape
Homemade hot‑air dash to freedom sparks awe, worry, and Disney nostalgia
TLDR: Two East German families built a hot‑air balloon and escaped to West Germany at night in 1979 after months of risky prep. Commenters split between awe at their bravery and concern for the kids, while others share podcasts, photos, and films that bring the daring escape to life.
A 1979 midnight escape in a homemade hot‑air balloon has the comment section doing what it does best: argue, swoon, and recommend content. Eight people—two East German families—spent a year and a half building three balloons, dodging police after a failed first try, and finally floated 25 minutes to West Germany. The thread’s loudest chorus is pure admiration: “dogged persistence… incredible” vibes everywhere. But there’s drama too: some readers can’t get past the risk to children, sharpening the debate between heroic grit vs. terrifying gamble.
The media rec brigade showed up armed: a superfan dropped the Damn Interesting episode for easy listening, another posted this photo that “puts it into perspective,” and the cinephiles flexed with Disney’s Night Crossing and the 2018 German film Balloon. History nerds chimed in with context: the border was designed to stop escapes by any means, including lethal force—so yeah, this wasn’t just a quirky DIY project; it was a high‑stakes sprint for survival. Jokes sprinkled in about “balloon v3” and “camping club cloth procurement” keep it light, but the core mood is respect mixed with anxious side‑eye. The takeaway: a wild, true‑life caper that still sets comment sections on fire.
Key Points
- •On 16 September 1979, eight people escaped from East to West Germany in a homemade hot air balloon.
- •The flight launched from Oberlemnitz and landed near Naila, lasted about 25 minutes, and occurred around 02:00 am.
- •Planning took over a year and a half, involved three balloons, modifications, and a first failed attempt that alerted authorities.
- •Technical calculations required a 2,000 m³ balloon heated to ~100 °C and about 800 m² of fabric to lift ~750 kg.
- •Materials were discreetly sourced, including 850 metres of cotton cloth purchased in Gera; two non-fatal injuries were reported.