Read . . .

Brown Alumni Magazine
(September/October 2022)

Through the Iron Curtain
   by Debby (Wilson) Pattiz ’89

Listen . . .

COMING SOON: Teaser Episode
Hear the introduction to Debby’s journey in her own voice, including actual excerpts from early interviews

Radio GDR: The East Germany Podcast

Episode 44: A Strange Exchange—Brown University Students on the Loose in East Germany
(January 2022)

111 Kilometer Akten Podcast (111 Kilometers of Files)
Episode 57: Eine US-Studentin in der DDR (A US Student in East Germany)
Recorded in German at The Wende Museum of the Cold War with Dagmar Hovestädt, Spokeswoman, German Federal Stasi Records Archive (April 2022)

Explore . . .

Photos from Debby’s 1988 adventures in East Germany

Debby’s university ID card

“Cooking” in the dorm

“Streng Geheim” or “top secret” authorization for  STASI (“MfS”) surveillance of Debby

In her dorm window during a “Dark Time”

Instant messaging in a time and place before internet, cell phones, email, or social media

Hitchhiking across East Germany