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Memorial

Memorial Stone for the Victims of the Berlin Wall

Photo of a memorial stone bearing the names of those who died

Memorial stone on Swinemünder Straße, 2026 © Berlin Wall Foundation, photo: Nicole Halliday

A boulder put up in 1982 on Bernauer Strasse near Swinemünder Strasse by the Borough Office of Wedding honors the memory of the people who died at the Berlin Wall (in the Wedding borough): Ida Siekmann (died 22 August 1961), Hans Dieter Wesa (died 23 August 1961), Rudolf Urban (died 17 September 1961), Olga Segler (died 26 September 1961), Bernd Lünser (died 4 October 1961), Ernst Mundt (died 4 September 1962), Ottfried Reck (died in November 1962), two victims whose names were unknown at the time (9 June 1965 and 1 December 1984), and Dietmar Schulz (died 25 November 1963).

The two unknown victims were later identified as Dieter Brandes (shot on 9 June 1965, died 11 January 1966) and Michael Horst Schmidt. Because accurate information on the exact number of people who died at the Berlin Wall, on their lives and precise date of death, and on the correct spelling of the names that were known was not available, the information given on memorial stones and crosses along the Berlin Wall sometimes varied. Nevertheless, these memorials have been retained as artifacts of a (West Berlin) culture of memory.

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.

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