Regierungsvierte in Berlin in Mitte, Germany — Northeast German Plain (The European Plain)
Peter Fechter
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, September 3, 2025
1. Peter Fechter Marker
* 14.01.1944
† 17.08.1962
Peter Fechter, Maurer, drittes von vier Kindern (einziger Sohn) der Familie im Ost-Berliner Bezirk Weißensee.
Fechter verblutete vor den Augen der Welt unmittelbar hinter der Mauer in der Nähe vom Checkpoint Charlie. Erst nach einer Stunde wurde er geborgen und von DDR-Grenzern abtransportiert.
Auf West-Berliner Seite folgten tagelange wütende Proteste.
(English translation:)
Peter Fechter
Born January 14, 1944
Died August 17, 1962
Peter Fechter, a bricklayer, the third of four children (the only son) of a family in the East Berlin district of Weißensee.
Fechter bled to death in full view of the world just behind the Wall near Checkpoint Charlie. Only after an hour (after being shot) was he rescued and taken away by GDR border guards.
Days of angry protests followed on the West Berlin side.
Erected 2021 by Berliner Bürgerverein 1970.
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, Cold
this page online
Location. 52° 31.058′ N, 13° 22.606′ 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: Dieter Beilig (here, next to this marker); Chris Gueffroy (here, next to 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); 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 . . . Killing of Peter Fechter (Wikipedia). Excerpt:
On 17 August 1962, around one year after the construction of the Berlin Wall, Fechter and Helmut Kulbeik attempted to flee from East Germany. The plan was to hide in a carpenter's workshop near the wall on Zimmerstrasse and, after observing the border guards from there, to jump out of a window into the "death-strip" (a strip running between the main wall and a parallel fence which they had recently started to(Submitted on September 23, 2025.)construct), run across it, and climb over the two-metre (6.5 ft) wall topped with barbed wire into the Kreuzberg district of West Berlin near Checkpoint Charlie.Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, September 3, 20252. Peter Fechter white cross (3rd from right)These 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”.
Their plan was initially successful as both Fechter and Kulbeik reached the final wall, but as they began to climb the East German border guards fired at them. Although Kulbeik succeeded in crossing over the wall, Fechter was shot in the pelvis while still climbing, in plain view of hundreds of witnesses. He fell back into the death-strip on the East German side, where he remained in view of West German onlookers, including journalists. Despite his screams, Fechter received no medical assistance from the East German side, and could not be tended to by those on the West side. West Berlin police threw him bandages, which he could not reach, and he bled to death after approximately one hour. As a result of his death, hundreds in West Berlin formed a spontaneous demonstration, shouting "Murderers!" at the border guards…
Credits. This page was last revised on September 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 23, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 101 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 23, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
