Conrad Schumann was one of the first East German border guards to make a significant escape from East Germany, a country that had recently erected the Berlin Wall to stop the mass emigration of its citizens to the West. On August 15, 1961, Schumann was stationed at a post on the street that separated East and West Berlin. As he watched the construction of the Wall unfold, he became increasingly aware of the implications of his position and the restrictive regime he served. During a moment of opportunity, he jumped over a barbed-wire fence, leaving his post and the oppressive East German state behind. The West German police were on standby to catch him as he landed on the other side, and this moment was captured in an iconic photograph that illustrated the desperation of many East Germans yearning for freedom. Schumann's escape became a symbol of resistance against the oppressive political environment and stirred public interest and sympathy for others trapped in the East.