Русская версияAs the 47th anniversary of the construction of the Berlin Wall
approaches, the Potsdam Center for Historical Research has revealed
the findings of its research, detailing at least
136 deaths at the Berlin Wall following its construction on
Aug.
13, 1961.
With the study led by Hans-Hermann Hertle, the number of deaths
that occurred at the Cold War barrier -- the subject of great
debate for many years -- has now been broken down to offer concrete
details: 98 victims were GDR fugitives, who were either shot,
killed in an accident or took their own lives while trying to get
over the wall.
30 people from the East and West also died under these
circumstances, although they did not intend to flee.
Victims mostly young
Bildunterschrift:
Despite the wall's tight security, thousands of people managed to
escape.
The study shows that the majority of victims were young men between
the ages of 16 and 30. Eight children were also among the victims,
five of which were preschoolers or elementary students who drowned
in the waters at the border. One baby, whose parents were
successful in escaping, was smothered. Eight of the victims were
women.
Separating East and West Germany for 28 years, the Berlin Wall was
tightly guarded by GDR soldiers, 8 of which died while on duty. The
soldiers were either killed by deserters, comrades, fugitives,
people assisting those trying to escape, and in one case, by a West
Berlin police officer.
New numbers rooted in fact
Bildunterschrift:
Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:
Bernd Neumann, Minister of Culture, financially supported the
research.
Hertle, whose research team studied 374 cases, told the DPA news
agency that the data previously collected by the Central Registry
of State Judicial Administrations in Salzgitter was too low because
it only counted the number of deaths caused through the application
of force. Those who drowned were not captured, although almost half
of the escape attempts in Berlin were over the water.
According to Hans-Hermann Hertle, the newly unveiled numbers are
based on exhaustive investigations, the first ever analysis of
files from the wall protection proceedings and on contemporary
witness interviews. With the new study, the death toll has risen by
two.
Funded through Bernd Neumann, Minister of Culture, the research by
the Potsdam Center for Historical Research was unable to clarify
the circumstances surrounding 15 cases. An additional 16 suspicious
cases are still to be examined.
In addition to the 136 deaths at the Berlin Wall, at least 48
predominantly elderly people from both the East and the West died
either during or after border checks in and around Berlin primarily
as the consequence of a heart attack.
(Deutsche Welle)
more info >>
<< Back