Origins
The inner German border originated from the Second World War Allies' plans to divide a defeated Germany into occupation zones. The boundaries between these zones were drawn … See more

The two German governments promoted very different views of the border. The GDR saw it as the international frontier of a sovereign state – a … See more

The East German side of the inner German border was dominated by a complex system of fortifications and security zones, over 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) long and … See more

The border also ran along part of the length of three major rivers of central Germany: the Elbe between Lauenburg and See more

The closure of the border had a substantial economic and social impact on both countries. Cross-border transport links were largely severed; 10 main railway lines, 24 secondary … See more

The inner German border system also extended along the Baltic coast, dubbed the "blue border" or sea border of the GDR. The coastline … See more

The guards of the inner German border comprised tens of thousands of military, paramilitary and civilian personnel from both East and West Germany, as well as from the United Kingdom, the United States and initially the Soviet Union.
East Germany See more