Inner German Border Fortification and Border Policy (1952–1989)

1. GDR imposes “special regime” on border

   May 26, 1952Labels: GDR, Border Zone

   • Bundesarchiv
   • MilitaryHistories
   • InnerBorder

2. Forced resettlements from the border zone begin

   Jun 1, 1952Labels: Aktion Ungeziefer, Resettlement

   • Bundesarchiv
   • Vermin

3. East German uprising suppressed by Soviet force

   Jun 17, 1953Labels: 1953 Uprising, Soviet Forces

   • GHDI
   • Britannica

4. Soviets hand over full border control

   Jan 1, 1956Labels: Soviet Troops, GDR Border

   • InnerBorder
   • BorderGuards

5. Civilian auxiliaries created to support border troops

   Jun 5, 1958Labels: Freiwillige Helfer, Civil Auxiliaries

   • FHG

6. Berlin border sealed; Wall construction begins

   Aug 13, 1961Labels: Berlin Wall, Sector Border

   • Berlin de
   • Britannica

7. GDR border forces reorganized under Defence Ministry

   Sep 1, 1961Labels: Grenztruppen, Ministry of

   • Grenztruppen
   • InnerBorder

8. SM-70 “self-firing” devices introduced

   Jan 1, 1970Labels: SM-70, Automated Weapons

   • Fortifications
   • M dlareuth

9. Quadripartite Berlin agreement reached

   Sep 3, 1971Labels: Four Power, Berlin Diplomacy

   • 4Power
   • Berlin de

10. Basic Treaty signed between FRG and GDR

    Dec 21, 1972Labels: Basic Treaty, FRG GDR

    • GHI
    • BasicTreaty

11. GDR State Border Act enters into force

    May 1, 1982Labels: Grenzgesetz, State Border

    • UMN HR
    • Schie befehl

12. SM-70 removal completed along inner-German border

    Nov 30, 1984Labels: SM-70 Removal, Border De-escalation

    • WashPost
    • Fortifications

13. Hungary opens border to East German escapees

    Sep 10, 1989Labels: Hungary, Escape Route

    • NATO
    • RFE RL

14. GDR suspends visa-free travel to Czechoslovakia

    Oct 3, 1989Labels: GDR, Czechoslovakia

    • UPI

15. Berlin Wall and inner-German border opened

    Nov 9, 1989Labels: 9 November, Border Opening

    • Berlin de
    • DHM

16. Border controls and installations dismantled rapidly

    Apr 1, 1990Labels: Dismantling, Border Infrastructure

    • DHM
    • FallBorder

17. Border controls abolished with monetary union

    Jul 1, 1990Labels: Monetary Union, Border Controls

    • GHDI
    • DHM