Berlin, Wedding district, Bernauer Strasse: house facades as part of the Wall, September 1967 (Photo: Polizeihistorische Sammlung/Der Polizeipräsident in Berlin)
On the sixth anniversary of the Wall’s construction, the GDR press justifies it as an action taken against "the most cunning of robbers".
25 August
1967
At a meeting held by the military council of the command of the GDR border troops, at which the progress and success of mine placement at the inner-German border is discussed, the Stasi representative, Lieutenant Colonel Harnisch, states: "I am not in favour of reducing the mine obstacle. The focus must not be on the expense. First and foremost, we must see the political and moral damage done to our republic when the border is violated. (…) There must not be any sentimentality regarding the mines."
