Germans commemorate construction of Berlin Wall, prepare for 30th anniversary of its fall

Record ID: 1427037

  • Title: Germans commemorate construction of Berlin Wall, prepare for 30th anniversary of its fall
  • Date: 13th August 2019
  • Summary: WREATH READING IN GERMAN "THE CDU REMEMBERS THE VICTIMS - ANNEGRET KRAMP-KARRENBAUER"
  • Embargoed: 27th August 2019 15:49
  • Keywords: Berlin Wall construction fall anniversary East Germany
  • Location: POTSDAM & BERLIN, GERMANY
  • City: POTSDAM & BERLIN, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
  • Reuters ID: LVA002AS1V5TZ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Germany on Tuesday commemorated the construction of the Berlin Wall 58 years ago in a ceremony at the former border between East Germany and West Berlin, with the conservative leader urging the world never to let anything similar happen again.
    During remarks at Glienicker bridge which links Potsdam in former East Germany and the former West Berlin, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said the country remembered those killed trying to flee to freedom from the inhumane East German regime which ruled for decades.
    Shortly after midnight on August 13, the government ordered more than 40,000 East German soldiers and police to seal off all but 13 crossing points to West Berlin with barbed wire. The operation surrounded the 155-km (96-mile) perimeter of West Berlin, using more than 10,000 km (6,000 miles) of barbed wire.
    Estimates of the number of people who died trying to escape vary.
    Berlin prosecutors say 169 people were killed between August 13, 1961, and November 9, 1989 - 136 shot dead and 33 killed by mines.
    One group representing victims puts it at 239, a figure that includes many deaths that only came to light after the Wall fell.
    An estimated 5,000 people reached West Berlin.
    More than 75,000 people were imprisoned for trying to leave East Germany without permission.
    The last East German to be shot dead crossing the border was Chris Gueffroy in February 1989. Winfried Freudenberg was killed in an escape attempt by balloon on March 8, 1989.
    On November 9, Germany will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with a ceremony.
    (Production: Leon Malherbe, Michele Sani)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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