Potsdam/Berlin, July 2011 [last version: November 2013] Hans-Hermann Hertle/Maria Nooke

The Victims at the Berlin Wall, 1961-1989

Findings o a !esearch "ro#ect $% the &entre or !esearch on &ontem'orar% Histor% "otsdam and the Berlin Wall Memorial (ite and )oc*mentation &entre +$#ecti,es When the ro!e"t be#un in 200$ % && years a'ter the Berlin Wall (as built and 1$ years a'ter the )ast *erman ar"hives (ere o ened %, there (ere still no reliable data on the number o' eo le +illed at the Wall,1 -e endin# on the sour"es, ur ose and date o' the studies, the 'i#ures varied bet(een ./ 01entral 2e#istry o' 3tate Judi"ial 4dministrations in 3al5#itter6, /7 0Berlin Publi" Prose"ution 3ervi"e6, 82 0Berlin Poli"e President6, 122 01entral 9nvesti#ation :''i"e 'or *overnment and ;ni'i"ation 1riminality6 and more than 200 deaths 0Wor+in# *rou 13 4u#ust6, <he names o' many o' the vi"tims, their bio#ra hies and the "ir"umstan"es in (hi"h they died (ere (idely un+no(n,2 <he dual ob!e"tive o' our ro!e"t there'ore (as to establish the number and identities o' the individuals (ho died at the Berlin Wall bet(een 1871 and 18/8 and to do"ument their lives and deaths throu#h histori"al and bio#ra hi"al resear"h, )e inition 9n order to rovide reliable 'i#ures, the ro!e"t had to be#in by develo in# "lear "riteria and a de'inition o' (hi"h individuals are to be understood as vi"tims at the Berlin Wall, We re#ard the = rovable "ausal and s atial "onne"tion o' a death (ith an attem ted es"a e or a dire"t or indire"t "ause or la"+ o' a"tion by the >border or#ans? in the border territory@ as the de"isive 'a"tor, 9n sim ler terms: the "riteria are either an attem ted es"a e or a tem oral and s atial lin+ bet(een the death and the border re#ime, <his a lies re#ardless o' (hether the death (as "aused by the use o' 'irearms or an a""ident in the border 'a"ilities, and inde endently o' (hether it too+ la"e dire"tly on the death stri , in

1A 3ee: Bans%Bermann Bertle/Caria Noo+e 0eds,6, The Victims at the Berlin Wall, 19611989. A Biographical Handbook, p blished by Dentrum 'Er Deithistoris"he Fors"hun# Potsdam and 3ti'tun# Berliner Cauer, Berlin 2011, 4ll sour"es not other(ise stated are "ontained in this ubli"ation, <he bio#ra hi"al ortraits "an also be read on the (ebsite (((,"hroni+%der%mauer,de, G <he 'ollo(in# individuals (or+ed on the ro!e"t, the boo+ and the 'indin#s resented belo(: ;do Baron, 1hristine Bre"ht, Cartin 4hrends and Hydia -ollmann, 2A <hese observations also a ly to those +illed on the inner%*erman border, on the borders to third "ountries and in the Balti", 3ee: Bans%Bermann Bertle/*erhard 3Ilter, =-ie <odeso 'er an Cauer und *ren5e, Probleme einer Bilan5 des --2%*ren5re#imes@, in !e tschland Archi" #$%&&6, 77.%7.7, <his arti"le also in"ludes numerous re'eren"es to rimary sour"es and se"ondary literature,

the no man?s land, or a'ter trans ortation to a hos ital G hours, days, (ee+s, months or, as in the "ase o' Berbert Cende, even years later, :ur de'inition thus also in"ludes deaths not "overed by the "riminal rose"utions o' a"ts o' violen"e on the border, as these "on"entrated solely on "ases in (hi"h another individual (as dire"tly involved, (o*rces <he ro!e"t re#istered and resear"hed a total o' $.$ deaths and sus e"ted "ases, <he ro!e"t team "he"+ed these "ases and (rote the bio#ra hies on the basis o' broad ar"hive and material resear"h, For the 'irst time, this ro!e"t (as able to evaluate the "ase 'iles o' the Berlin and Neuru in ubli" rose"ution servi"es, re ared in the "ourse o' investi#ations on a"ts o' violen"e at the Wall: a total o' more than 1$0 investi#ation 'iles and over .0 re% investi#ation 'iles, 9n res onse to an a li"ation to the ar"hive o' the Federal 1ommissioner 'or the 2e"ords o' the Cinistry o' 3tate 3e"urity in the 'ormer *erman -emo"rati" 2e ubli" 0B3t;6, (e (ere rovided (ith re"ords on more than 100 deaths and sus e"ted "ases, 9n the Federal 4r"hives Cilitary 4r"hive, the ro!e"t team (as able to resear"h some 300 "ases in the 'iles o' the *-2 National -e'en"e Cinistry, the *-2 border troo s and the military ubli" rose"ution servi"e, Wide%ran#in# resear"h, material vie(in# and evaluation also too+ la"e in the Poli"e Bistory 1olle"tion o' the Berlin Poli"e President, the Federal 4r"hive in Berlin and Joblen5, the Berlin 4r"hive, the Brandenbur# 1entral 4r"hive, the Politi"al 4r"hive o' the Forei#n :''i"e, the 4r"hive o' the 1entral 2e#istry o' 3tate Judi"ial 4dministrations in 3al5#itter and in various ress, radio and hoto ar"hives, 9n order to #ain insi#hts into the vi"tims? motivations and livin# "onditions inde endently o' o''i"ial do"uments 'rom )ast and West *ermany, the ro!e"t team sou#ht "onta"t to their 'amilies and 'riends, su""eedin# in more than .0 "ases, <his meant that ersonal memories and 'amily "onteKts "ould be in"luded in numerous bio#ra hies, Findings <he "ase revie(s led to the 'ollo(in# 'indin#s: 4t least 13/ eo le (ere shot dead, su''ered 'atal a""idents or "ommitted sui"ide a'ter a 'ailed es"a e attem t a"ross the Berlin Wall, 9n a 'urther 17 "ases, the ar"hive material (as not su''i"ient to rove (hether or not the individual (as a vi"tim o' the Berlin Wall or not, <hese "ases "on"ern dro(nin#s in (hi"h the identity o' the body is un+no(n and there is no "lear roo' o' attem t es"a es or lin+s to the border re#ime, 4s su"h "riteria "annot be ruled out, ho(ever, these and a 'urther ei#ht "ases on (hi"h no ar"hive material "ould be 'ound G thus a total o' 2& "ases G "ould not be identi'ied as vi"tims, 17& sus e"ted "ases (ere ruled out as vi"tims at the Berlin Wall, as there (as neither an indi"ation o' an es"a e attem t nor a s atial lin+ (ith the border re#ime, or as there (ere no deaths, <hese "ases in"lude, 'or eKam le, es"a ees (ho survived shootin#s (ith severe in!uries, or individuals alle#ed by West Berlin sour"es to have been involved in es"a e attem ts, (hi"h "an ho(ever be roved not to have ta+en la"e, -ual "ounts due 2

to im re"ise in'ormation (ere eK"luded 'rom the 'i#ures, as (ere sui"ides in Berlin (ater(ays that "ould be roved to have no relation to es"a e attem ts,3 4t least 2$1 mainly elderly travellers 'rom )ast and West *ermany died be'ore, durin# or a'ter assin# throu#h a Berlin "he"+ oint, redominantly as a result o' heart atta"+s, <here (ere at least 22. deaths o' this ty e at the Friedri"hstraLe 3tation border "rossin#, <hese in"luded 17& *-2 "iti5ens, &0 West Berliners, 20 West *ermans, one 15e"hoslova+ian and t(o *-2 "iti5ens intendin# to ass throu#h the "he"+ oint (ith ermission to emi#rate to West *ermany, 4s a #eneral rule, ho(ever, the sour"es rovide neither re"ise la"es nor "ir"umstan"es o' these deaths, 9n other (ords, it remains un"lear (hether the individuals in Muestion died be'ore, durin# or a'ter assin# throu#h the "he"+ oint or even durin# an interro#ation, Not every death is there'ore ne"essarily lin+ed to the border re#ime, 4t the same time, ho(ever, the many deaths o' travellers at *-2 "rossin# oints "annot be seen inde endently o' the Berlin Wall and the )ast *erman border re#ime, Further resear"h is "ertainly ne"essary on this sub!e"t,

-t .east 1/8 Victims at the Berlin Wall <he 13/ vi"tims at the Berlin Wall on (hom (e have (ritten bio#ra hi"al teKts in"lude: 100 es"a ees shot dead, su''erin# 'atal a""idents or "ommittin# sui"ide durin# an attem t to "ross the borderN 30 individuals 'rom )ast and West *ermany (ho (ere shot or had a 'atal a""ident (ith no intent to es"a eN )i#ht *-2 border soldiers +illed in servi"e by military deserters, 'ello( soldiers, an es"a ee, an es"a e a#ent or a West Berlin oli"e o''i"er, 4bout t(o thirds o' the deaths o""urred on the se"tor border inside the "ityN &7 eo le died at the Wall bet(een Berlin and Brandenbur#, re'erred to as the outer rin# 0in"ludin# 3& es"a ees, ei#ht individuals 'rom )ast and West *ermany (ith no es"a e intentions and 'our border #uards6, 4 roKimately hal' o' the 13/ deaths too+ la"e in the 'irst 'ive years o' the Wall?s eKisten"e 0in"ludin# 1877, this 'i#ure is !ust under 70 er"ent6, <he year 187. 'ormed an initial turnin# oint, (ith the number o' vi"tims 'allin# si#ni'i"antly 'rom this oint on, <he main reason 'or this develo ment is the te"hni"al modernisation o' the border be#un in 1877 0"onstru"tion o' the =modern border@6, 4 se"ond turnin# oint "an be made out 'rom 18.7 on: 9n the 'irst 1$ years a'ter the Wall (as built, 'rom 1871 to 18.$, a total o' 118 eo le died in "onne"tion (ith the *-2 border re#ime 0i,e, /7,2 er"ent o' all vi"tims6N the almost eMually lon# eriod 'rom 18.7 to 18/8 o""asioned 18 vi"tims 013,/ er"ent6, <his "lear redu"tion is rimarily due to the "ontinued te"hni"al enhan"ements to the border 'a"ilities 0ele"troni" alarms O =border si#nal 'en"e .&@N border (all .$6 and to intensi'ied #uardin# o' the area be'ore the Wall itsel', 4 'urther reason (as the Belsin+i 4""ords si#ned in 4u#ust 18.$, )s"a e attem ts a"ross the border 'a"ilities 'ell as a result, (ith less dan#erous emi#ration a li"ations risin# in "ontrast,

3A For a detailed loo+ at these "ases, see: Bertle/Noo+e, The Victims at the Berlin Wall, 19611989, &7& ',

V0&T0M( -T TH1 B1!.0N W-.. 1961 to 1989

2ear

Total

:' (hom: )s"a ees

:' (hom: 9ndividuals (ith no intent to es"a e 'ast (erman

:' (hom: 9ndividuals (ith no intent to es"a e West (erman 1

:' (hom: Border #uards % & 1

1871 1872 1873 187& 187$ 1877 187. 187/ 1878 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.& 18.$ 18.7 18.. 18./ 18.8 18/0 18/1 18/2 18/3 18/& 18/$ 18/7 18/. 18// 18/8 Total

13 33 14 14 13 13 3 5 / 9 6 6 7 / 6 3 3 6 1 1 1 6 1 / 1/8

11 1$ / / / 8 2 & 3 $ 1 3 & 1 2 % 2 % % 1 3 % 1 1 % & 1 % 3 144 8 1 1 2 1 1 1 1

1 3 3

2 3 1 1 1 1

1 1 1

33

"laces o esca'e/death

"lace o esca'e/death

Total

:' (hi"h: )s"a ees

:' (hi"h: 9ndividuals (ith no intent to es"a e 'ast (erman

:' (hi"h: 9ndividuals (ith no intent to es"a e West (erman

:' (hi"h: Border #uards

0nner cit% sector $order/ 1ast Berlin $oro*ghs Pan+o( Pren5lauer Ber# Berlin%Citte Friedri"hshain <re to( )ector border +*ter ring/ 8)! to9ns and ,illages 3"hPne'eld *roL5iethen Cahlo( <elto( Jleinma"hno( Potsdam 3a"ro( *roL *lieni"+e 3taa+en Fal+ensee/Fal+enhPh/ Fal+enha#en 3"hPn(alde Niederneuendor' Benni#sdor' Bohen Neuendor' Ber#'elde *lieni"+e/Nordbahn , ter ring T+T-. 3 3 3 6 6 1/ / 1 3 / 3 1 1 3 3 3 46 1/8 2 2 2 3 & / 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 +# 144 14 5 /7 15 3/ 92 8 7 27 10 1$ 6* 1 1 7 . & 19

3 1 #

3 +

1 2 1 1 2

1 1 1

1 * 8 + 33 # 8

144 1sca'ees :illed or (* ering Fatal -ccidents 7. o' the 100 es"a ees (ere shot dead, 4side 'rom Fran"is5e+ Piesi+, all es"a ees (ere *-2 "iti5ens, in"ludin# ten military deserters, Fran"is5e+ Piesi+ (as a Polish "iti5en, one o' the 30 individuals (ho su''ered 'atal a""idents durin# es"a e attem ts at the Wall, <his 'i#ure also in"ludes es"a ees 0'or eKam le 9da 3ie+mann, 2udol' ;rban, :l#a 3e#ler and Bernd HEnser6 (ho 'ell to their deaths in Bernauer 3traLe or dro(ned in the (ater(ays on the Berlin border 0su"h as ;do -Elli"+, Hothar Hehmann, 9n#o JrE#er, *eor# Feldhahn, Phili Beld, )rna Jelm, Borst Plis"h+e and *Enter WiedenhP't in 1871 and 1872 alone6, <hree o' the es"a ees G 1hristel and )"+hard Weha#e and Willi Born G "ommitted sui"ide a'ter their es"a e attem ts 'ailed, <he 100 es"a ees in"lude ei#ht (omen, 'our o' (hom made their es"a e attem ts to#ether (ith their husbands or 'riends: 9da 3ie+mann !um ed out o' a third%'loor (indo( in her a artment on Bernauer 3traLe &/ on 22 4u#ust 1871 G one day be'ore her $8th birthday G and died, <he Berlin Wall had "ut her o'' 'rom her sister, (ho lived in the Western se"tor o' the "ity only a 'e( blo"+s a(ay, /0%year%old :l#a 3e#ler died o' stress%indu"ed heart 'ailure on 27 3e tember 1871, one day a'ter her !um 'rom her se"ond%'loor a artment on Bernauer 3traLe 3&, Ber dau#hter lived not 'ar a(ay in West Berlin, 20%year%old -orit 3"hmiel made an es"a e attem t (ith her 'ian"Q and three 'riends on 18 February 1872, None o' them (ere (illin# to ut u (ith the oliti"al "onditions in the 3)- state any lon#er, -orit 3"hmiel (as shot in the stoma"h and =#rabbed by the arms and le#s and "arried a(ay li+e a ie"e o' meat,@ as one o' her #rou remembers, 4ll her 'ello( es"a ees (ere arrested and senten"ed to im risonment, $3%year%old )rna Jelm 'rom 3a"ro( near Potsdam dro(ned north o' *lieni"+e Brid#e on 11 June 1872, <he reasons 'or her es"a e attem t are un+no(n to this day, 3.%year%old Bilde#ard <rabant made an attem t to es"a e on 1/ 4u#ust 187&, resumably motivated by marital roblems, 3he (as dis"overed tryin# to (ithdra( 'rom the border territory and +illed by a tar#eted shot in the ba"+, 22%year%old )l+e We"+eiser (anted to 'lee to West Berlin (ith her husband -ieter We"+eiser in Citte, dia#onally o osite the 2ei"hsta# buildin# on 1/ February 187/, Without aid or eMui ment, an es"a e at this arti"ularly (ell%#uarded s ot (as ra"ti"ally im ossible, 4t the 'irst barbed%(ire barrier, 1. shots (ere 'ired at the "ou le, +illin# them both, <he border #uards later admitted that the use o' 'irearms to revent their es"a e had not been ob!e"tively ne"essary, <he youn# "ou le 1hristel and )"+hard Weha#e had been unable to 'ind (or+ in the same to(n or a marital a artment 'or many years, Bavin# #iven u ho e, they de"ided to hi!a"+ a lane 'rom 3"hPne'eld 4ir ort in )ast Berlin to Banover on 10 Car"h 18.0, <he ilots, ho(ever, barri"aded the "o"+ it and landed the lane in 3"hPne'eld a#ain, <he Weha#es "ommitted sui"ide (hile still on board, =4ll (e (ant is to live our o(n li'e the (ay (e?d li+e to, [R] 3hould our lan 'ail, 1hristel and 9 (ill ta+e our lives, [R] 9n that "ase, death is the best solution,@ (rote )"+hard Weha#e in his sui"ide note, 1/%year%old Carienetta Jir+o(s+y, (ho made an es"a e attem t on 22 November 18/0 alon# (ith her 'ian"Q and a 'riend 'rom Bohen Neuendor' in the north o' Berlin, (as shot 6

do(n 'rom a ladder at the last border obsta"le and died as a result o' a shot throu#h the stoma"h, 3he and her 'riends (anted =!ust to live in ea"e 0,,,6, (ithout stress and (ithout everythin# bein# banned,@ as one o' her 'riends des"ribed her motivation in hindsi#ht, <he detailed bio#ra hi"al teKts on these (omen and the lar#e ma!ority o' male es"a ee vi"tims reveal ty i"al eK erien"es o' everyday li'e and re ression in the *-2, also rovidin# an insi#ht into the "ir"umstan"es o' eo le livin# in the divided *ermany, <he over(helmin# ma!ority o' the es"a ees "ame 'rom )ast Berlin and the surroundin# area, <hose (ho attem ted es"a e shortly a'ter the Berlin Wall (as built (ere mainly 'rom the (ar and ost%(ar #eneration, <hey had eK erien"ed the o en border as "hildren and youn# eo le and had (itnessed the di''eren"es bet(een )ast and West Berlin at 'irst hand, Cany o' them had relatives in the West or "ommuted there 'or (or+, )ven be'ore the border (as "losed, the division had been a si#ni'i"ant 'a"tor in their lives, <he later es"a ees, in "ontrast, (ere art o' a #eneration so"ialised mainly in the *-2, and had not "ons"iously eK erien"ed the o en border, <heir lives (ere mar+ed by dissatis'a"tion (ith the e"onomi"al and oliti"al "onditions, a la"+ o' ers e"tives and a lon#in# 'or 'reedom, <heir es"a e attem ts (ere o'ten rom ted not only #enerally by 'amily ties severed by the Wall, but by s e"i'i" events, <hese in"luded (or+%related and/or oliti"al "on'li"ts in the (or+ la"e, the loomin# dra't to the National Peo le?s 4rmy or harassment durin# national or oli"e servi"e, re ressions due to "riti"al "omments, re'usal o' trainin# and "areer im rovement o ortunities, etty treatment by the authorities or denial o' an emi#ration a li"ation, 4round a Muarter o' the es"a ees had "on'li"ts (ith the state authorities, Cost o' these had s ent time in rison 'or oliti"al reasons, 'reMuently on #rounds o' re eated attem ts to es"a e, 3even es"a ees had revious "onvi"tions 'or alle#ed the't or 'raud, in one "ase 'or a violent "rime, 3ome attem ted es"a e to evade im risonment, 'urther "riminal rose"ution or other re ression su"h as re'erral to residential youth institutions, 9t is o'ten di''i"ult to !ud#e ho( intensely the individuals must have 'elt that they sa( no other (ay out than an es"a e attem t at the ris+ o' their lives, /4 0ndi,id*als rom 1ast and West 8erman% :illed or (* ering Fatal -ccidents 9ith No 0ntent to 1sca'e 9n the se"ond #rou , (hi"h "onsists o' individuals (ith no intent to es"a e, 22 o' the 30 vi"tims (ere inhabitants o' and visitors to West Berlin, 1$ o' them (ere shot, in"ludin# the es"a e hel ers -ieter Wohl'ahrt, Bein5 Jer"ha, 3ie#'ried No''+e, Bein5 3"hPneber#er and 4dol' Phili , Bermann -Pbler, Paul 3tret5, Bein5 3"hmidt, 3ie#'ried Jru#, Bein5 CEller, *erald <hiem, Werner JEhl, -ieter Beili#, -r, Johannes Cus"hol and Hothar Frit5 Freie, 3even had 'atal a""idents, <hese in"lude 'ive "hildren: 4ndreas 3en+, 1en#aver Jatran"i, 3ie#'ried Jroboth, *iuse e 3avo"a and 1etin Cert, (ho 'ell into the border "anal on *rPbenu'er in Jreu5ber#, West Berlin, and "ould not be res"uedN also ;lri"h Jr5emien and Wol'#an# Bo''mann, <his #rou also in"ludes ei#ht *-2 "iti5ens shot in the border territory althou#h they had no intent to es"a e 0Wol'#an# *lPde, -ieter Ber#er, Peter Bau tmann, Berbert Cende, Friedhelm )hrli"h, Berbert Jliem, Johannes 3 ren#er, Hothar Benni#6, 1ight :illed Border 8*ards 7

4 third #rou "onsists o' ei#ht border soldiers +illed in servi"e, 4s #uards, they (ere art o' the system to se"ure the border and revent es"a es G and at the same time eK osed to the dan#ers asso"iated (ith it, <hree border #uards G JPr#en 3"hmidt"hen, 2ol' Benni#er 0(ho (as "onsiderin# es"a e himsel'6 and ;lri"h 3teinhauer G (ere +illed by armed military deserters, t(o o' (hom (ere also shot dead, *Enter 3elin#, the head o' a atrol #rou , (as hit by 'atal shots (hen a 'ello( soldier mistoo+ him 'or an es"a ee in thi"+ 'o#, 3ie#'ried Widera (as hit to the #round by es"a ees and died o' his in!uries, 2einhold Buhn, )#on 3"hult5 and Peter *Prin# (ere shot deliberately or a""identally by an es"a e hel er, a 'ello( soldier and a stray bullet 'rom a West Berlin oli"e o''i"er?s #un, res e"tively, in "on!un"tion (ith es"a es, With the eK"e tion o' *Enter 3elin#, they (ere made *-2 ro a#anda heroes G ta+in# them a(ay 'rom their 'amilies a se"ond time, as ;lri"h 3teinhauer?s sister ut it, Publi" o inion in the West (as divided over (hether es"a ees had the ri#ht to de'end themselves a#ainst border #uards, or the li'e o' a border #uard too+ riority in the "on'li"t bet(een 'reedom and li'e, as the Berlin lo"al "ourt 'ound 0in the "ase o' ;lri"h 3teinhauer6, )ealing 9ith the )ead and their Families 3ome o' the most movin# 'indin#s o' our study "on"ern the (ay the *-2 dealt (ith the dead and their 'amilies, Bad the +illin# been (itnessed 'rom West Berlin or be"ome +no(n, the )ast *erman ro a#anda tended to re'er to the vi"tims as ="riminals@ and =lum en elements@ (ho had =violated the state border@ and attem ted to evade =the unishment they deserved@ G as (as the "ase (ith *Enter Hit'in, 2oland Bo'', Peter Fe"hter and others, <he 3)- arty leadershi +no(in#ly a""e ted the +illin#s, Set it (as also a(are 'rom the very outset that a"ts o' violen"e (ere re#istered by the West Berlin oli"e and dealt (ith by West Berlin?s ubli" rose"ution servi"e, and that the 1entral 2e#istry o' 3tate Judi"ial 4dministrations in 3al5#itter do"umented and investi#ated all "ases it be"ame a(are o', 'or the ur ose o' "riminal rose"ution, 3hots at the Wall also brou#ht the *-2 into #reater disre ute in both arts o' *ermany, "reated an e"ho beyond the "ountry throu#h the rotests o' the ;3, British and Fren"h muni"i al "ommanders in Berlin, and dama#ed the international re utation o' )ast *ermany and the 3oviet ;nion behind it, <hese "ir"umstan"es are re'erred to in a 3tasi re ort in "on!un"tion (ith the +illin# o' the es"a ee Ci"hael Bittner at the Berlin Wall in November 18/7 as 'ollo(s: =<he oliti"al sensitivity o' the state border to Berlin 0West6 made it ne"essary to "on"eal the in"ident, 2umours about the in"ident had to be revented 'rom "ir"ulatin#, (ith in'ormation assin# to West Berlin or [the] F2*,@& 9n order to +ee shots and o' "ourse +illin#s at the Wall as se"ret as ossible, the = ro"essin# o' >"or se "ases?, should they involve in"idents on the state border to West Berlin@$ (as la"ed in the hands o' the Cinistry o' 3tate 3e"urity 0C'36, (here it (as re#ulated by =ordinan"es@, =instru"tions@ and =observations@, <he border troo s did not automati"ally trans'er in!ured es"a ees 'rom the death stri to the nearest "lini", but had to deliver them to "ertain hos itals G re'erably the Peo le?s Poli"e Bos ital in Berlin%Citte and

&A Final re ort o' C'3/J- Pan+o( on :PJ =Cor#entau@, 2$,.,18//, in: B3t;, 4st, Berlin, 4:PJ No, $/8$///, 'ol, 11/, $A Bere and belo(, see: :rdnun# [des C'3] 'Er die Bearbeitun# von Hei"henvor#In#en, no la"e or year stated, in: B3t;, C'3, B4 9T No, $13&, ', 10%17, <here (ere similar instru"tions 'or the inner%*erman border,

the -re(it5 4rmy Bos ital near Potsdam, Jilled es"a ees (ere ta+en to the Forensi" Cedi"al 9nstitute at the Bumboldt ;niversity 01haritQ6 or the Bad 3aaro( 1entral 4rmy Bos ital 'or auto sies, )ven the severely in!ured (ere not #enerally trans orted by ambulan"e, but on the loadin# bed o' army tru"+s or military <rabants, (ith no medi"al "are (hatsoever, 4""ordin# to later assessments, 'aster medi"al aid and more humane treatment "ould have saved several lives 0'or eKam le in the "ases o' Jlaus *arten, Bans%JEr#en 3tarrost, 3ilvio Pro+s"h, Ci"hael 3"hmidt6, ; on arrival at hos ital or the "oroner, the 3tasi too+ "ommand, <he investi#ation de artments 0=Hine 9T@6 o' the t(o lo"al C'3 administrations in Berlin and Potsdam (ere res onsible 'or these es"a ees, and in arti"ularly im ortant "ases 1entral -e artment 9T at C'3 headMuarters, 9n!ured es"a ees (ere isolated in se arate rooms at the Peo le?s Poli"e Bos ital, +e t under #uard and trans'erred as soon as ossible to the C'3 rison hos ital or the 3tasi remand risons in Berlin or Potsdam, <he 3tasi had sole o(er o' dis osal over the dead: it too+ over their ossessions, e''e"ts and eKhibitsN in the "ase o' 1hristian Butt+us it even "on'is"ated and ar"hived the 'atal bullet removed durin# the auto sy, 4nd it (as the 3tasi alone that determined (hat ha ened to the body: startin# (ith the auto sy and 'ollo(ed by the issuin# o' the death "erti'i"ate, the a li"ation to set u a ="or se "ase@ (ith -e artment 9 4 0 oliti"al "rimes6 o' the )ast Berlin ubli" rose"ution servi"e, runnin# the ubli" rose"ution 'ile, re"eivin# the auto sy re ort, issuin# the death "erti'i"ate at Berlin%Citte re#istry o''i"e, re"eivin# the 'uneral "erti'i"ate, to the trans'er and "remation o' the "or se, (hi"h #enerally too+ la"e at Baums"hulen(e# 1rematorium, 9n dealin# (ith all these institutions G and a'ter that (ith the 'amily members G the res onsible 3tasi o erative had to assume a 'alse identity =as a oli"e o''i"er a"tin# on behal' o' the Berlin #eneral state rose"ution servi"e@,7 <he border troo s (rote re orts on every attem ted es"a e in"ident, 9n the "ase o' deaths, these usually (ent to )ri"h Bone"+er, the Politburo member res onsible 'or se"urity matters and later se"retary #eneral o' the 3)-, <heir 'urther investi#ations "on"entrated on analysis and, (here a ro riate, removal o' (ea+ oints in the border se"urity system, (hi"h had ossibly 'avoured the es"a e attem t, <he a"tual investi#ation o' the "rime s"ene, "olle"tion o' eviden"e and Muestionin# and interro#ation o' (itnesses, in"ludin# the border #uards involved, (as a#ain mainly the tas+ o' the 3tasi -e artments 9T in Berlin and Potsdam, in arti"ular their =s e"ial "ommissions@, (hi"h "oo erated "losely (ith a 'urther 3tasi line, 1entral -e artment 9,. Bo(ever, "on"ealin# the in"ident and the "rime s"ene al(ays too+ riority over "rime s"ene investi#ation 'or these =investi#ation or#ans@, i' this "ould revent events 'rom bein# observed and re#istered on the West Berlin side, Cembers o' -e artment 9T in Berlin and Potsdam "arried out re#ular "landestine investi#ations into the vi"tims and their 'amilies as (ell as ossible motives and third arties a(are o' the es"a e attem ts, 4t the same time, they had the tas+ o' in'ormin#

7A 9bid, .A C'3%Bau tabteilun# 9 o erated (ithin the NU4 and the border troo s under the title =4dministration 2000@ or =4rea 2000@ and (as res onsible 'or =military de'en"e@, <his in"luded above all reventative measures a#ainst desertion throu#h the re"ruitment o' in'ormers and (ides read s yin# on army ersonnel, alon# (ith dete"tion and investi#ation o' es"a e attem ts, 3ee: 3te han Wol', Ha ptabteil ng -. /VA nd (ren0tr ppen, 12)3Handb ch, Part 999/13, ublished by the Federal 1ommissioner 'or the 2e"ords o' the Cinistry o' 3tate 3e"urity o' the Former *-2 0B3t;6, 2nd edition, Berlin 200$,

the vi"tims? neKt o' +in and (here a ro riate la"in# 'amily, relatives, 'riends, "ollea#ues and nei#hbours under observation, 9t (as =not advisable to "ome strai#ht out (ith the ne(s,@ a""ordin# to the 3tasi?s =ordinan"e 'or ro"essin# "or se "ases@, Be#innin# (ith a #eneral "onversation (ith the as yet unin'ormed (ido(, 'ather or mother =may rodu"e many a valuable ie"e o' in'ormation on the border violator@,/ <he eKtent o' the in'ormation subseMuently revealed on the death also "alled 'or =#reat ta"t@, <he 'ollo(in# 'ormulations (ere stated to have roved use'ul: =a6 ,,, lost his li'e throu#h a border rovo"ation o' his o(n "ausin#, b6 ,,, had a 'atal a""ident o' his o(n "ausin#, "6 ,,, dro(ned in a border (ater(ay,@8 4s version b6 =had a 'atal a""ident o' his o(n "ausin#@ a arently rom ted many additional Muestions on (here the in"ident too+ la"e, o eratives (ere instru"ted to ma+e use o' version a6, =as it is thus easier to eK lain (hy no in'ormation "an be rovided on the re"ise lo"ation o' the in"ident,@10 <he o eratives (ere to re'use to =sho( the "or se@ to the neKt o' +in and had to attain their a#reement to a "remation and reMuest their si#nature 'or a de"laration 'or this ur ose, <he 3tasi aid the "osts o' the 'uneral u to the resentation o' the urn, in a number o' "ases usin# money ta+en 'rom the o"+ets o' the vi"tims themselves, 3ome relatives, 'or instan"e the 'amily o' Jarl%Bein5 Jube, re"eived the urn by ost, 4""ordin# to an =observation@ by the Potsdam 3tasi administration, the relatives (ere to be in'ormed that =a memorial "eremony (ill not ta+e la"e on rin"i le@,11 :nly (hen the urn (as buried (as it to be allo(ed 'or =a memorial "eremony [to] ta+e la"e in the smallest "om any, 'or (hi"h a riest may also be sele"ted,@ By attendin# almost all burials, 3tasi o eratives robbed even the 'amily?s 'are(ell 'rom the vi"tims o' its riva"yN they monitored the sermons and shado(ed the mourners, 9n "onversation (ith the 'amily, o eratives (ere to assure that =no in'ormation on the in"ident be"omes ubli", (hereby suitable elements 'rom the investi#ation results may be used ta"ti"ally to a"hieve this ob!e"tive 0morally de#enerate erson, "riminal tenden"ies, et",6,@ <he re"ise details #iven to the 'amily members about the "ause o' death de ended on the results o' the investi#ation G and above all on (hat had already be"ome +no(n about the =in"ident@ via =Western or#ans and ro a#anda, in!ured and arrested arties, other *-2 "iti5ens,@ 9n many "ases, the ubli" and the 'amily 'ound out about deaths 'or various reasons G and the 3tasi (as unable to "on"eal the details, 9n more than 30 "ases, ho(ever, 'amily members (ere in'ormed about the death G usually (ith no in'ormation on the eKa"t "ir"umstan"es G but obli#ed to remain silent or lie on the matter to third arties, or they (ere sim ly told lies about the "ause o' death,

/A 3ee: :rdnun# [des C'3] 'Er die Bearbeitun# von Hei"henvor#In#en, no la"e or date stated, in: B3t;, C'3, B4 9T No, $13&, 'ol, 13, 8A 9bid, 10A 9bid,, 'ol, 1&, 11A Weisun# des Heiters der BU'3 Potsdam 5ur 2e#elun# der DustIndi#+eit und des Dusammen(ir+ens von -iensteinheiten der Be5ir+sver(altun# bei der Bearbeitun# von verlet5ten oder #etPteten *ren5verlet5ern und dur"h Fol#eers"heinun#en verlet5ten oder #etPteten Personen an der 3taats#ren5e der --2 5u Westberlin im Be5ir+ Potsdam, Potsdam, 20,$,18.0, in: B3t;, 4st, Potsdam, BdH do" no, &00$.7, 'ol, 3%11, Muote 'ol, 10, <he subseMuent Muotes are also ta+en 'rom this sour"e,

10

<he mothers o' Bans 2I(el and Walter Bayn (ere in'ormed that their sons had dro(ned, 9n a"tual 'a"t they had both been shot (hile attem tin# to es"a e: Bans 2I(el on 1 January 1873, Walter Bayn on 2. February 187&, Be"ause the latter?s 'amily re'used to believe the version they (ere told, they (ere threatened =they (ould be liable to rose"ution i' they s read rumours about the matter,@ <he arents o' Joa"him Cehr, (ho (as shot dead durin# an es"a e attem t on 3 -e"ember 187&, (ere obli#ed to resent their son?s death to third arties as a =tra''i" a""ident@ G as (ere the (ido( o' Jlaus *arten, the relatives o' )l+e and -ieter We"+eiser, Jlaus%JEr#en Jlu#e, 1hristian Peter Friese and many others, even u to the (ido( and arents o' Hut5 3"hmidt, 9n a number o' "ases, 'alse "ir"umstan"es o' death (ere even "onstru"ted and eviden"e su"h as re orts on 'indin# the "or se and death "erti'i"ates (as 'or#ed, 10%year%old JPr# Bartmann and 13%year%old Hothar 3"hleusener (ere shot dead durin# a !oint es"a e attem t in <re to( on 1& Car"h 1877, JPr# Bartmann?s #randmother (as told her #randson had dro(ned and had been 'ound in JP eni"+ (ith in!uries "aused by a shi ?s ro eller, Hothar 3"hleusener?s mother (as in'ormed that her son had died o' an ele"tri" sho"+ in )s enhain near Hei 5i#, 4 'or#ed death "erti'i"ate 'rom the Hei 5i# re#istry o''i"e (as rodu"ed as roo', 9n the #uise o' oli"e o''i"ers, 3tasi o eratives in'ormed 'amily members that Johannes 3 ren#er had been 'ound stran#led in a (ood near to Bu"h 1lini" on 20 Cay 18.&: a ="lear%"ut sui"ide@, as they said, 9n a"tual 'a"t, Johannes 3 ren#er had been shot dead on the se"tor border bet(een <re to( and Neu+Plln ten days reviously, Berbert Balli?s relatives (ere in'ormed that he had 'allen into a "onstru"tion dit"h near the 15e"hoslova+ian embassy a'ter heavy drin+in#, (here he (as 'ound dead (ithout his identity a ers on & 4 ril 18.$, <he investi#ations (ere said to have roved that he had died (ith no third% arty involvement, 9n 'a"t, he had been shot dead the revious day durin# an attem ted es"a e near WilhelmstraLe in Berlin%Citte, 9n at least 11 "ases, the death (as neither "on'irmed nor denied even in res onse to enMuiries, and the names o' vi"tims (ere +e t se"ret G althou#h the 3tasi (as a(are o' them 02oland Bo'', )ri"h JEhn, Paul 3tret5, 3ie#'ried Jru#, Bein5 CEller, *erald <hiem, -ieter Beili#, Can'red *ert5+i, -r, Johannes Cus"hol, 3ilvio Pro+s"h, Ci"hael Bittner6, )m loyees o' the 'orensi" medi"ine institutes, hos itals, ubli" rose"ution de artment, Peo le?s Poli"e, re#istry o''i"es, 'uneral institutes, Baums"hulen(e# 1rematorium and the #raveyard administrations "oo erated (ith the 3tasi or served as its instruments and too+ art in the mani ulation o' eviden"e and 'alsi'i"ation o' o''i"ial do"uments su"h as death "erti'i"ates at the 3tasi?s reMuest or instru"tions, 4'ter 1880, a number o' the do"tors, ubli" rose"utors, oli"e o''i"ers, re#istrars, "rematorium and #raveyard sta'' involved 'ormed a +ind o' "artel o' silen"e alon# (ith the 3tasi o eratives res onsible, <his is the reason (hy the disa earan"e o' the bodies o' -r, Johannes Cus"hol, 2oland Bo'', 3ie#'ried No''+e, -ieter Beili#, 3ilvio Pro+s"h and Ci"hael Bittner "annot be eK lained, <his treatment by the *-2 state or#ans and authorities had a dramati" e''e"t on the 'amilies already traumatised by the loss o' their loved ones, as Peter Fe"hter?s sister des"ribed durin# 11

the "ourt "ase a#ainst the border #uards (ho +illed him, 4 sense o' o(erlessness a#ainst the ubli" de'amation and the en'or"ed obli#ation not to tal+ about the matter, she said, determined the 'amily?s lives: =<his eK erien"e o' eK"lusion and the li'e (ith ima#es o' an enemy as an everyday o""urren"e that (as not (hat (e (anted, but (as 'or"ed u on us by others, be"ame a 'undamental eK erien"e 'or the Fe"hter 'amily,@ <o our +no(led#e, this a lies 'or many i' not all o' the 'amilies, <he mental (ounds "aused by this treatment never heal, Final !emarks Cany 'amilies did not 'ind out the truth about ho( their loved ones died until the 1880s, (hen the *-2 ar"hives (ere o ened and the "rimes on the border (ere rose"uted, <he 'o"us in the "ourt "ases a#ainst border #uards and their "hain o' "ommand durin# the 1880s (as on the er etrators, lo#i"ally enou#h, :ur bio#ra hi"al handboo+ loo+s at the stories o' the vi"tims? lives and the "ir"umstan"es o' their deaths, Presentin# their 'ates is an attem t to #ive a 'a"e and a story to the vi"tims at the Berlin Wall and to res"ue them 'rom the *-2 re#ime?s ros"ribed oblivion G and in the "ase o' the border soldiers +illed, 'rom the re#ime?s attem ts to "o%o t them osthumously, We ho e to lay a role in reservin# their memory a'ter de"ades o' eK"lusion, en'or"ed silen"e, instrumentalisation, and also loo+in# the other (ay in the )ast and the West, )a"h o' the bio#ra hies also do"uments everyday li'e in a di"tatorshi in"a able o' eKisten"e (ithout the Wall, (hi"h erished (hen that (all 'ell,

12