Günter Litfin Memorial

On 24 August 1961, Günter Litfin was shot and killed by members of the transport police as he attempted to flee to West Berlin. He became the first victim of shots fired at the border between East and West Berlin after the Wall went up on 13 August 1961. This memorial was established in memory of Günter Litfin and of all the other victims of the SED regime who were killed or injured on the GDR border.

The memorial was initiated by private citizens at the site of a former command post of GDR border troops and is maintained by an organization founded by the brother of Günter Litfin. Since 2017, the Günter Litfin Memorial and its exhibition are officially part of the Berlin Wall Foundation.

A pedestrian and bicycle path runs from the memorial along the Spandauer Schifffahrtskanal and across the historic cemetery Invalidenfriedhof to the former border crossing at Invalidenstrasse. This path continues on the other side of Invalidenstrasse along Alexanderufer, where a memorial stone for Günter Litfin and a Berlin History Mile info board have been put up near the water south of the railway bridge.

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Map of Memorial Sites

The Berlin Wall has disappeared from the cityscape. This map highlights places in today’s urban landscape that serve as reminders of the Berlin Wall. These include memorial sites, informational panels, exhibitions, and artworks. The map provides insight into historical events, personal stories, and the varying forms of expression within the culture of remembrance.