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Dramatic Baltic Sea escape: Bodo Müller reveals secret military operations
Reading about spectacular escape stories in the Grenzhus Schlagsdorf on November 7th, 2025. Bodo Müller addresses the NATO alarm in 1975.
Dramatic Baltic Sea escape: Bodo Müller reveals secret military operations
A reading about a dramatic escape story will take place at Grenzhus Schlagsdorf on Friday, November 7th, 2025, which is not only captivating but also reflects the political atmosphere of the 70s. Author and journalist Bodo Müller sheds light on the spectacular escape of the Gaeth family from Rostock, who set off on the risky journey towards the Federal Republic of Germany in 1975 on the sailing yacht “Tornado”. [Nordkurier](https://www.nordkurier.de/regional/nordwestmecklenburg/dramatische-wandel-ueber-die-ostsee-ist-thema-im- Grenzhus-schlagsdorf-4072636) reports that the escape across the Baltic Sea and the associated military conflicts will be the focus of the event on this day.
Müller meticulously researched and reconstructed the events surrounding the dramatic descent from Darßer Ort. The family was discovered shortly after their departure by a Federal Border Police guard boat, which took them in tow. As a result, GDR border ships also continued the pursuit. This persecution ultimately resulted in a NATO alarm and underscored the explosive security situation at the time.
Reading and discussion in the Grenzhus
The reading with Müller begins at 7 p.m. Admission is free, but registration by phone or email is required. Müller, who was born in Saxony-Anhalt in 1953, studied journalism and photography in the GDR. He recognized the relevance of this escape for German history and summarized his findings in the book “NATO Alarm Case: The Gaeth Family's Escape across the Baltic Sea in 1975”.
A personal background gives the story additional depth: Müller himself experienced a failed escape attempt in 1985 and was subsequently imprisoned. An application to leave the country in 1986 led to a professional ban, and it was not until 1989 that he was able to leave the GDR with his family. Today he lives in Lübeck-Travemünde and has published several books that deal with the topic of escape and freedom, such as “Across the Baltic Sea to Freedom” and “Faszination Freedom”.
Focus on the past
The reading in Grenzhus is not only a reminder of past escape stories, but also part of a broader project that has become more important in recent years. In this context, for example, the Archive of Refugees was created, which collects oral history interviews with refugees conducted between 1945 and 2016. This initiative was initiated by the journalist Carolin Emcke and aims to make the perspectives of migrants in German history visible and to honor their contributions to society. bpb
The associated educational policy measures, which offer interviews and materials on criticism of racism, escape and migration, point to the relevance of the topic in today's society. These developments underline the importance of remembering and telling refugee stories as part of our cultural heritage.