Posted on Aug 17, 2018
Peter Fechter dies trying to escape at the Berlin Wall - August 17, 1962
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KILLING IN HORRIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES
Peter Fechter, an 18-year-old bricklayer, is one of the strongest symbols of the killing of a fugitive at the Berlin Wall.
He was shot by East German border guards on August 17, 1962. Together with another friend, Helmut Kulbeik, he tried to climb the wall. Severely wounded, he fell back onto the so-called “Death Strip” between the inner and outer wall on the East German side of the border. West Berliners tried to throw bandages down to the screaming Fechter who was, however, unable to do anything. The East German border guards let him bleed to death without any help and only took him away an hour later when it was clear that he was dead. It was not permitted for the West German police or the Western Allied soldiers at nearby Checkpoint Charlie to intervene on the East German side of the border. It would have been an unlawful violation of the border and would have certainly been followed up with further shooting from the East German border guards.
Helmuth Kubeik escaped unhurt.
The West Berliners raised a wooden cross at the site, later replaced by the present steel memorial. The spot on which he died is marked in front of the memorial by basalt rock.
http://coldwarsites.net/country/germany/memorial-to-peter-fechter-berlin/
Peter Fechter, an 18-year-old bricklayer, is one of the strongest symbols of the killing of a fugitive at the Berlin Wall.
He was shot by East German border guards on August 17, 1962. Together with another friend, Helmut Kulbeik, he tried to climb the wall. Severely wounded, he fell back onto the so-called “Death Strip” between the inner and outer wall on the East German side of the border. West Berliners tried to throw bandages down to the screaming Fechter who was, however, unable to do anything. The East German border guards let him bleed to death without any help and only took him away an hour later when it was clear that he was dead. It was not permitted for the West German police or the Western Allied soldiers at nearby Checkpoint Charlie to intervene on the East German side of the border. It would have been an unlawful violation of the border and would have certainly been followed up with further shooting from the East German border guards.
Helmuth Kubeik escaped unhurt.
The West Berliners raised a wooden cross at the site, later replaced by the present steel memorial. The spot on which he died is marked in front of the memorial by basalt rock.
http://coldwarsites.net/country/germany/memorial-to-peter-fechter-berlin/
Cold War
Germany
Berlin
Guard
Death
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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This was so horrifying. I remember reading about it in a history of the Berlin Wall
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SGT John " Mac " McConnell
Sad for the people whom had to live in East Berlin. Just to see the horror of their regime.
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Lt Col Charlie Brown
You could see the difference when the wall came down. The West Germans looked healthier, were taller, clearly in better shape. We will see that in North versus South Korea when hopefully the North is freed.
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I spent 13 years in Germany, most of it with the Wall standing. Young people today have no idea what it’s like to not live in a free society. They need to experience that life to appreciate what they have that they disrespect today!
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