Built by East Germany in phases from 1952 to the late 1980s, the fortifications were constructed to stop the large-scale emigration of East German citizens to the West, about 1,000 of whom are said to have died trying to cross it during its 45-year existence.
Fæstningsværkernene blev bygget af Østtyskland i faser fra 1952 til slutningen af 1980'erne, for at stoppe den storstilede emigration af østtyske borgere til Vesten, hvoraf omkring 1.000 siges at være døde under forsøg på at krydse den i løbet af sin 45-årige eksistens.