Was there a Balloon escape from east Berlin?

Yes, there was a notable balloon escape from East Berlin in 1979 when two families, the Strelzyk and the Wetzel families, used a homemade hot air balloon to flee to West Germany. After working secretly for several months, they successfully launched the balloon and crossed the border, landing safely in West Germany. This daring escape highlighted the lengths to which people would go to escape the oppressive regime of East Germany. Their story has since been depicted in various media, including the 2018 film "Balloon."