Page "Ich bin ein Berliner" Paragraph 5

In 1961, the East German government under Walter Ulbricht erected a barbed-wire barrier around West Berlin, officially called the antifaschistischer Schutzwall ( anti-fascist protective barrier ).

The East German authorities argued that it was meant to prevent spies and agents of West Germany from crossing into the East.

However, it was universally known as the Berlin Wall and the majority opinion was that its primary purpose was to keep East German citizens from escaping to the West.

Over a period of months the wall was rebuilt using concrete, and buildings were demolished to create a " death zone " in view of East German guards armed with machine guns.

In 1962, the first attempted escape leading to a fatal shooting took the life of Peter Fechter.