These are a few pictures from the last excursion we took with the Fulbright group. We went to Die Grenze!! That is, The Border. We went to a small city 2 hours from Marburg where the wall(s) that divided East and West Germany used to stand. The area is now a museum so they have a lot of artifacts and materials regarding the wall and former East Germany.
I learned SOOO much on this trip. Let me highlight just a few examples:
1. There were actually TWO walls. Even if someone got over one wall they could run about one football field length until they had to climb the second wall.
2. East German Border Patrols were ordered to fire at any person they saw trying to get over the border. If a patrol didn't shoot to kill, they would be reported and punished.
3. For a short time there were automatic guns installed on the fence such that if a person tripped the wire a SPRAY of bullets would be fired instantly.
4. They had "aggressive" dogs patrolling between the two walls.
5. The fence material had such small holes it was very difficult to climb, not to mention the barbed wire at the top.
6. There were tall towers as well as short and low huts where border patrols were one guard 24 hours a day.
We also learned all about how East Germans lived during that time. I had no idea (I was 2 when the wall come down) how very different East Germany was from the rest of Europe. Very, very interesting. It was such a neat experience to stand out in the open fields with gorgeous scenery knowing that 20 years ago the walls still stood!
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