Günter Litfin was the first who lost his life due to the wall. On 24 August 1961, only a few days after construction of the wall began, the young man from Weißensee in Berlin was shot in the back of the head as he attempted to escape. Just like him, many others were shot dead at the Berlin Wall between 1961 and 1989. Those who attempted to escape and failed, faced imprisonment, abuse and degradation. Escapees’ friends and relatives also experienced harassment, repression and efforts to undermine them at the hands of the Stasi.

“We owe it to the victims of the wall and orders to shoot to kill that we should continue to remember the pain that the Communist dictatorship caused to countless people,” said Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media Grütters on the 60th anniversary of the construction of the Wall. The Federal Government Commissioner joined contemporary witnesses from three generations at an event held tonight at Berlin’s “Palace of Tears” at the Friedrichstrasse station.

The Palace of Tears is so called due to the role it played between 1961 and 1989 as the border clearance post at Berlin's Friedrichstrasse station. Today it is a memorial and exhibition space. Along with the Museum in the Kulturbrauerei, it belongs to the Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland Foundation.

Remembrance is an opportunity for the future

The central focus of the discussions at the Palace of Tears was the significance of the construction of the Berlin Wall for how the young generation see history. The evening also explored how young people can be encouraged to engage with the Communist dictatorship.

In her opening address, Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media Grütters underlined the importance of remembering the victims of state oppression and violence, especially for the younger generation and their understanding of democracy. “Remembrance is a way of conveying the importance of fundamental democratic rights and the dangers of totalitarian ideologies to people who have never had to experience the terrors of an unjust totalitarian regime.” Grütters also stressed that this was what made remembering the victims of the East German Communist Party regime of critical importance for the future. 

Young people remember

Funding for the Young People Remember East German Communist Party Injustice programme recently came into force. The Federal Government is providing over seven million euros to support 44 education projects exploring issues of East German Communist Party injustice. These projects are intended to encourage young people to engage with the Communist dictatorship and the lasting effects on its victims. It is also hoped that participants will be inspired to actively stand up for fundamental democratic values.

Memorial event on 13 August 2021

The chief event to mark the construction of the Berlin Wall 60 years ago will take place on 13 August 2021 at the Berlin Wall Memorial. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media Grütters will be joined by the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Michael Müller. 

Following the event, the Federal Government Commissioner will lay a wreath at the memorial to Peter Fechter in the former death strip in Zimmerstrasse in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin. The young man was aged only 18 when he was shot while attempting to escape in 1962.

The Berlin Wall Foundation is presenting an extensive range of events between 13 and 15 August 2021 to remember the construction of the wall, its consequences and its victims. There will be guided tours, discussions with contemporary witnesses and workshops, as well as concerts, exhibitions, performances and digital services. Admission is free.

The Foundation is funded jointly by the Federal Government and the State of Berlin.