The Border Margin Strip

The actual East German barrier system was built six to ten meters inside of the DDR. This allowed the Border Troops to come through the fence gates for maintenance and still be on East German soil. This small strip of land between the barrier and the actual border line was known as the margin strip. The East Germans routinely cut back vegetation, conducted maintenance and worked on fence upgrades from the margin area. When fence construction was underway, the elite East German GAKs heavily patrolled along the margin strip.

West Meets East ... As East German farm tractors cut the heavy grass in the margin area, members of the Eaglehorse Squadron and BGS, with green berets, watch. They in turn, are watched by East German Border Troops. --Erwin Ritter


Maintenance gate in barrier, looking across the margin strip.
--Erwin Ritter

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