11 August 1961
In the period from 11.8.1961, 8 a.m. to 12.8.1961, 8 a.m., 1,532 refugees are registered in the Marienfelde refugee centre in Berlin.
A sitting of the GDR Volkskammer: the acting chairman of the Council of Ministers, Willi Stoph, explains that the Council considers "it necessary to continue to implement appropriate measures to combat human trafficking, headhunting and sabotage in order to ensure the state order and maintain the planned establishment of socialism and the protection of the peaceful work and life of our citizens in the GDR and especially in its capital."
In a resolution, the Volkskammer confirms the measures already introduced to "stop the headhunting and human trafficking organised by West Germany and West Berlin." It gives the Council of Ministers the general authorisation "to prepare and carry out all measures that prove necessary on the basis of the commitments entered into by the Warsaw Pact states and of this resolution."
At 6 p.m., the Minister for State Security, Erich Mielke, informs the enlarged leadership group at the Ministry about the planned "measure" at a briefing. It is given the code name "Action Rose". Mielke's demands: "No enemy is to become active; no mass gatherings are to be allowed. (...) Anyone uttering hostile remarks is to be arrested. Enemies are to be dealt with strictly and with more severity at the present time."
