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The 500 Meter
Zone, or Security Strip, was a no-man’s-land for the East German citizenry.
Established in 1952 as a 500 meter wide buffer zone, the strip fell under a
variety of restrictions and regulations designed to keep the East German
population away from the border. In addition to denying access to the area,
entire villages within the zone were evacuated and the buildings destroyed.
If a village was allowed to remain in the zone, it was surrounded by
fences to isolate it from the border fortifications. Once the zone was
depopulated, the Border Command systematically removed trees and brush to offer
better fields of fire and observation along the border and within the zone.
Although the area was off limits to the East German people, farming and forestry work were allowed in the zone where terrain permitted. However, access for agricultural purposes was allowed for only selected individuals under the watchful eyes of the border guards. Although agricultural activities were permitted in some instances, the area was far from pastoral. In addition to the visible fences and towers, the zone was full of bunkers, trip wires, signaling devices, dog runs, and hidden observation points. |
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The village of Melpers just outside the 500 Meter Zone |
