Gueffroy and his friend Christian Gaudian tried to escape from East Berlin to West Berlin on the night of 5 to 6 February 1989 . They tried to cross near the Britz district canal . Together with his friend Christian Gaudian , Gueffroy attempted on the night of February 5 -- 6 , 1989 , to escape from East Berlin to West Berlin , along the Britz district canal .