Regierungsvierte in Berlin in Mitte, Germany — Northeast German Plain (The European Plain)
Philipp Held
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, September 3, 2025
1. Philipp Held white cross
* 02.05.1942
† 11.04.1962
Philipp Held (*Worms) lernte mit 19 Jahren Bärbel W. kennen. Obwohl diese 1956 aus der DDR gekommen war, beschlossen Held und Freundin im September 1961, in die DDR zu gehen (Eberswalde). Doch schon bald beantragten Beide eine Ausreisegenehmigung, weil Held 1962 mit der Einberufung zur NVA rechnete.
Er plante mit Wissen seiner Freundin die Flucht. Angehörige der DDR Grenztruppen fanden seine Leiche am 22. April 1962 im Osthafen.
Philipp Held
Born May 2, 1942
Died April 11, 1962
Philipp Held (Born in Worms) met Bärbel W. at the age of 19. Although she had come from East Germany in 1956, Held and his girlfriend decided to move to East Germany (Eberswalde) in September 1961. However, both soon applied for exit permits because Held expected to be drafted into the National People's Army (NVA) in 1962.
He planned his escape with his girlfriend's knowledge. Members of the East German border guards found his body in the Osthafen harbor on April 22, 1962.
Erected
this page online
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, Cold. In addition, it is included in the Berlin Wall series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 11, 1962.
Location. 52° 31.056′ 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: Ingo Krüger (here, next to this marker); Lutz Haberlandt (here, next to this marker); Dieter Wohlfahrt (here, next to this marker); Axel Hannemann (here, next to this marker); Chris Gueffroy (here, next to this marker); Den Toten des Volkaufstandes vom 17. Juni 1953 (here, next to this marker); Dieter Beilig (here, next to this marker); Peter Fechter (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berlin.
Also see . . . Philipp Held (Chronik der Mauer). Excerpt:
…Philipp Held worried about being drafted into the National People’s Army. He feared that as a soldier entrusted with confidential information, he would never be allowed out of the walled-up country. In the end he felt he had no other choice but to risk trying(Submitted on October 4, 2025.)to flee, and his last letter to his mother contained a vague hint of this intention. His girlfriend and landlord were also informed of his intention without knowing any details. When he disappeared on April 8, they assumed that his escape had been successful. It was only after they did not hear from him for a number of days that they began to worry.Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, September 3, 20252. Philipp Held white cross - wide view, sixth from rightThese 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”.
Members of the East German border police noticed the body of Philipp Held in the Spree River on April 22, 1962. All evidence suggests that he drowned while trying to swim from the grounds of the Osthafen Harbor in Berlin-Friedrichshain to the West Berlin bank on the other side. The report written by the border police unit on duty that night stated that „the body floating towards the Oberbaum Bridge was retrieved from the water by the water police at the Schilling Bridge around 6 p.m. […]. The body belonged to Held, Philipp […] H. had his identity papers in a cellophane bag on him." The fact that the deceased had identity papers wrapped in a waterproof bag with him was a clear indication to East German authorities that they were dealing with an „attempted border breach." Further investigations determined that at the time of retrieval, Philipp Held had been floating dead in the water for approximately ten days. His corpse had gotten caught in the wire of an underwater barrier. Since no bullet wounds were found on the body, the East Berlin investigation office assumed that the deceased had drowned.
Additional keywords. Weisse Kreuze
Credits. This page was last revised on October 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 4, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 52 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 4, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
