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The digging of escape tunnels under the border fortifications was spectacular.³⁷ However, of around 70 tunnel projects, only a quarter were successfully used. There were also arrests and fatalities among the escape helpers. For each escape route discovered, measures were taken to increase security and perfect the border installations.

Memorial for Günter Litfin in Berlin-Mitte

© Archiv Bundesstiftung Aufarbeitung

Until the mid-1960s, the inner-city Wall was built using concrete blocks and barbed wire. In the areas between West Berlin and the surrounding land, metal fencing was put up in place of the Wall. As time went on, a border strip was gradually introduced – it was introduced according to locality and the extent to which the GDR could monitor the area. The border strip was complemented by two, sometimes three, rows of barbed wire fencing, anti-tank barriers, trip wires, dogs on cable-runs and watch towers. In June 1963, a border area (at some points stretching hundreds of metres) was set up. Residents and visitors to this area were only allowed to pass with special permits. This began at the so-called “Hinterlandmauer” (interior wall), which bordered the death strip to the east and formed the actual border for GDR citizens.