Regierungsvierte in Berlin in Mitte, Germany — Northeast German Plain (The European Plain)
Chris Gueffroy
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, September 3, 2025
1. Chris Gueffroy Memorial
*21.06.1968
†05.02.1989
Chris Gueffroy war das letzte Opfer der Mauer, das durch den Einsatz von Schusswaffen ums Leben kam. Vier Grenzsoldaten feuerten 22 Schüsse auf zwei unbewaffnete Flüchtlinge am Britzer Verbindungskanal zwischen Treptow und Neukölln. Einer der Flüchtlinge wurde verwundet und später wegen Republikflucht verurteilt. Chris wurde tödlich verletzt (Herzschuss).
Chris Gueffroy
Born June 21, 1968
Died February 5, 1989
Chris Gueffroy was the last victim of the Wall to die as a result of the use of firearms. Four border guards fired 22 shots at two unarmed refugees at the Britzer Verbindungskanal (Britz Canal) between Treptow and Neukölln. One of the refugees was wounded and later convicted of fleeing the Republic. Chris was fatally wounded (a shot to the heart).
Erected 2021 by Berliner Bürgerverein 1970.
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, Cold. In addition,
this page online
Location. 52° 31.057′ N, 13° 22.607′ E. Memorial is in Berlin, in Mitte. It is in Regierungsvierte. It is at the intersection of Ebertstraße and Scheidemannstraße, on the right when traveling south on Ebertstraße. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Berlin 10117, Germany. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, Central Europe, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Axel Hannemann (here, next to this marker); Dieter Wohlfahrt (here, next to this marker); Lutz Haberlandt (here, next to this marker); Philipp Held (here, next to this marker); Ingo Krüger (here, next to this marker); Dieter Beilig (here, next to this marker); Peter Fechter (here, next to this marker); Den Toten des Volkaufstandes vom 17. Juni 1953 (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berlin.
Also see . . . Chris Gueffroy (Wikipedia). Excerpt:
Gueffroy and Gaudian based their decision to try to flee over the wall on mistaken beliefs that the Schießbefehl, the standing order to shoot anyone who attempted to cross the wall, had been lifted (it had not), and that the Swedish prime minister Ingvar Carlsson was to pay a state visit to East Berlin (he had already left when they attempted their escape). Their(Submitted on September 21, 2025.)attempted escape from East Berlin to West Berlin, along the Britz district canal, would take place on the night of 5–6 February 1989, about two kilometres (1¼ miles) from what would be Gueffroy's last residence on Südostallee 218, Johannisthal, Treptow, East Berlin. Climbing the last metal lattice fence, the two were discovered and came under fire from the NVA border troops. Gueffroy was hit in the chest by two shots and died in the border strip. Gaudian, badly but not fatally injured, was arrested and was sentenced on 24 May 1989 to imprisonment of three years by the Pankow district court for attempted illegal border-crossing of the first degree ("versuchten ungesetzlichen Grenzübertritts im schweren Fall"). In September 1989 Gaudian was freed on bail by the East German government, and on 17 October 1989 he was transferred to West Berlin.Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, September 3, 20252. Chris Gueffroy Memorial - wide viewThese plus an additional eight crosses on the Reichstag-side of the Spree River comprise the Weisse Kreuze (“White Crosses”) memorial, erected to commemorate those killed while trying to escape into West Berlin during the Cold War. White crosses were originally installed (as early as 1971) at the point nearest where the victims were killed, but over time their location was consolidated (albeit relocated one or more times, depending on the cross). The 2021 date given here for this memorial is the year given by a nearby sign for their “renewal”.
Chris Gueffroy is often erroneously named as the last person to die in the attempt to cross the wall, but he was in fact only the last to be killed through the use of weapons, and the second-last to die in an escape attempt. Winfried Freudenberg died in the crash of an improvised balloon aircraft by which he crossed the border into West Berlin on 8 March 1989.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 21, 2025. This page has been viewed 174 times since then and 73 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 21, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
