In 1965 I served a Berlin Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon arriving I noticed the wall that separated East Berlin from West Berlin. The wall itself was approximately 14 feet high and four feet thick. On top of the wall embedded in the concrete were shards of broken glass and coils of barbed wired.
On the east side of the wall was an area known as the “death strip.” It was approximately 100 feet wide and was cleared of all buildings or obstacles that a person could hide behind or in. This gave the guards a clear shot at those who were attempting to defect.