Editing Inner German border (section)

===Border line===

Until the late 1960s the fortifications were constructed almost up to the actual border line. When the third-generation fortifications were constructed, the fences were moved back from between {{convert|20|m|ft}} to as much as {{convert|2|km|mi}}. This gave the guards a clear field of fire to target escapees and provided a buffer zone where engineers could work on maintaining the outward face of the fence in East German territory. Access to the outer strip was very tightly controlled, to ensure that the guards themselves would not be tempted to escape. Although often described by Western sources as a "[[no-man's land]]", it was in fact wholly East German territory; trespassers could be arrested or shot.<ref>[[#Rottman|Rottman (2008)]], pp. 25–26.</ref>

<div class="center">{{Gallery
|title=The East–West border line
|width=180
|height=160
|Gdr border outer strip.jpg|The actual border: a West German pole with warning sign, a GDR marker and the fence and a watchtower beyond
|Freilandmuseum Behrungen 5.jpg|An East German boundary stone with the letters "DDR" (''Deutsche Demokratische Republik'') carved on the western-facing edge
|DDR Grenzpfahl 02.jpg|One of the distinctive East German "barber pole" border markers. The spike on the top deterred birds from using it as a perch.
}}</div>

The actual line between West and East Germany was located on the far side of the outer strip. It was marked by granite stones (''Grenzsteine'') with the letters "DDR" carved on the west-facing edge. Around 2,600 distinctive East German concrete "barber pole" (''Grenzsäule'' or ''Grenzpfähle'') markers were installed just behind the border line at intervals of about {{convert|500|m|ft}}. A metal East German coat of arms, the ''Staatsemblem'', was fixed to the side of the marker that faced West Germany.<ref name="Rottman-20">[[#Rottman|Rottman (2008)]], p. 20.</ref>

On the West German side, there were no fortifications of any kind, nor even any patrol roads in most areas. Warning signs (''Grenzschilder'') with messages such as ''Achtung! Zonengrenze!'' ("Danger! Zonal border!") or ''Halt! Hier Zonengrenze'' ("Stop! The zonal border is here") notified visitors of the presence of the border. Foreign military personnel were restricted from approaching the border to avoid clashes or other unwanted incidents. Signs in English and German provided notifications of the distance to the border to discourage accidental crossings. No such restriction applied to Western civilians, who were free to go up to the border line, and there were no physical obstacles to stop them crossing it.<ref name="Rottman-20" />