Peter Fechter: The 1962 death of an 18-year-old at the Berlin Wall

On August 17, 1962, 18-year-old Peter Fechter became a symbol of the brutality of the Berlin Wall after being shot by East German border guards during an escape attempt.

Fechter and his companion, Helmut Kulbeik, attempted to flee East Berlin to seek a better life in the West. While Kulbeik successfully climbed over the wall, Fechter was shot in the pelvis and collapsed in the ‘death strip’ near Checkpoint Charlie.

Witnesses on both sides of the barrier watched as Fechter lay bleeding for approximately 50 minutes. While West Berlin police attempted to assist by throwing bandages and medical kits over the wall, they did not cross the border to reach him. Fechter ultimately died at the foot of the wall, becoming one of the many individuals who lost their lives attempting to cross the border.