Ralf-Günter Krolkiewicz was arrested in his flat in Potsdam the morning of 9 July 1984. He was still able to leave a note for his girlfriend: "State Security picked me up! I don't know how long it will take! Please be there!" His hastily written words express helplessness and the powerlessness about the uncertainty of his situation. Krolkiewicz was held in solitary confinement, sentenced to two years in prison. In 1985 the Federal German Republic "bought" his freedom (paid an amount of money to the GDR to liberate him and made him leave the country).