A day after the birthday celebration, on February 18, 1953, Hans and Christel Nieske were officially recognized as political refugees through the emergency reception process. The reception committee justified its decision as follows:
“The applicant is a farmer by profession and managed a leased farm of ca. 29 hectares. He was able to credibly demonstrate his hardship as understood by the Emergency Reception Act caused by excessive payment demands. The reception committee, therefore, approves the emergency admission of the applicant for compelling reasons.”
As recognized GDR refugees, the Nieskes were assigned to a federal state and flown out of West Berlin. Their destination was Rhineland-Palatinate.