The Firing Order

 

Grenztruppen Marksmanship Badge

 The Shiessbehfel, or “firing order” was the most controversial aspect of the East German border. The order gave the border guards the authority to fire upon anyone attempting an escape to the West.  Since the Berlin Wall went up in 1961, the West German government maintained a registry to document shooting deaths along the border in the hopes that one day the shooters would be brought to justice. According to West German figures 186 people fell victim to the infamous Shiessbehfel between August 13, 1961 and the collapse of the Wall on November 9, 1989. However, once East German secret files were opened investigators found  239 people were killed by either gun fire or land mines along the Berlin Wall while another 938 were killed on the Landesgrenz.  

cartoon courtesy of Scripps Howard
Although the firing order was never put in writing it’s existence had always been verified by border guards that had fled to freedom. However, in 1995  during the trial of eight former NVA generals, minutes from meetings with high level East German military and security officials were produced which stated that ”border violators should be destroyed and all attempts to breach the defenses should be prevented.”  

Now that the Wall has fallen, former border guards, border commanders, and politicians have faced justice for having shot escapees or for enforcing the “shoot to kill” order. Yet, some feel that the former East German border guards themselves are victims of “victor’s justice” as the reunified German justice system investigates and prosecutes the former guardians of the “anti-fascist protective wall."

The following were the guidelines the Grenztruppen used in determining the use of lethal force:
A Border Guard Could Fire:

  • To prevent a crime or the continuance of a crime  

  • When other methods to apprehend a border violator failed

  • When a violator did not respond to orders or the warning shot

  •  To protect life against assaults or aggression

  •  If a person tried to get away from a Kontrolle (inspection or ID check point)

  •  When an arrested violator attempted to escape or disobeyed the orders of the Border Guards.  

  •  When aircraft threatened border posts or landed in the territory of the DDR  

 
A Border Guard Could Not Fire:

  • If innocent bystanders could be hit by fire

  • If against juveniles and women (if it all possible)

  • If  the situation no longer allowed it

 
Halting Procedures:

  • The Border Guard(s) shouted “Halt,  Border Post. Put up your hands.”  (Halt! Grenzposten! Haende hoch!)”

  • If that failed a warning shot was fired

  • If that failed, fire was permitted

  • If, however, a border guard was attempting to escape, fellow guards were allowed to shoot without warning.

 
"You have the right..."

When a person was arrested by the Grenztruppen, he received the East German version of the Miranda Rights: “You are under arrest. If you try to escape we will use our weapons.”