File:System of gdr border fortification.jpg

Summary

Diagram of the inner German border fortification system circa 1984.

The border (1) shown in the diagram cuts across a road which formerly linked east and west. Proceeding from west to east, the zonal border is marked on the western side by signposts (2) saying "HALT HIER GRENZE" ("STOP HERE BORDER"). Just behind the border, there is a border marker pole (3) with diagonal black, red and yellow stripes. The border is otherwise unmarked until the fortifications begin well into East German territory, leaving a strip of unfortified borderland (4). A short distance after the zonal border, i.e. on the Eastern side, the road is dug up (5), so there is an anti-vehicle ditch across its whole width. Then follows a metal-mesh fence (6), with a double gate (7) where the road is. To the left of the road, the metal-mesh fence forks to form a double fence (8); the area between the two fences is mined. Near the road, instead of a second metal-mesh fence, there is a concrete-faced anti-vehicle ditch (9). Next follows a flood-lit control strip (10); behind that, a guard patrol road running parallel to the border (11). After that comes a strip of open green territory containing various types of guard towers (13, 15, 16), a dog run (17) and an observation bunker (14); this is delimited by a signal fence which has floodlights spaced at regular intervals (18). The signal fence curves around a village (19) that is close to the border, excluding it from the border strip. Where it crosses the road, the signal fence has a gate (21), and further up the road, i.e. deeper in East German territory, the road is blocked by a horizontal barrier, beside which there is a little house (22).

Copyright status:

public domain

Source:

Stacy, William E. US Army Border Operations in Germany. US Army Military History Office.