Czechoslovakian border fortifications during the Cold War

The border of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (CSSR) to Western Europe, mainly to NATO-member Federal Republic of Germany (less so to neutral Austria), was during the Cold War until 1989 as fortified as the Inner German border of the German Democratic Republic, in order to prevent citizens of the Eastern Bloc from escaping to the West, although official reports stated it was for keeping Western Europeans out of the Communist nations. (For example, the East German border fortifications were euphemistically termed an "anti-fascist protection wall" by GDR apparatchiks.)

After World War II and the division of Germany in 1949, the border area of Czechoslovakia was already a restricted area. From 1951 onwards, this area was designated by a signal fence some kilometres inland, while the border itself was secured by a guarded strip with a single barbed wire fence. This fence, originally an electric fence with a voltage of 5000 V, was replaced starting 1968 by a double wire mesh fence similar to that used for the Inner German border. In addition, the Czechs fitted their border with watch towers. In contrast to the concrete ones of the East Germans, these towers were usually made of wood or steel framework. In some areas various types of mines were used, notably PP Mi Ba, PP Mi D and PP Mi.

The barrier typically lay around 100 metres inland from the actual boundary line. As the fence was not visible from there at some places, it repeatedly occurred that curious or careless West German strollers overlooked border markers and mistakenly entered Czechoslovak territory, which could lead to their arrest.

The Czechs witnessed the drama in the "Prague Embassy" of West Germany, were thousands of East Germans were hiding, wearing down also the patience of the Czech authorities which gave in eventually, letting all East Germans travel directly to West Germany on 3 November. Thus, they broke the Iron Curtain.

In mid-November 1989, the Velvet Revolution succeeded. The barbed wire at the borders to East Germany and Austria was removed from 5th December onwards, and from 11th on, also the Czechoslovakian fortifications on their West German border were dismantled.

ee also

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External links

* http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/documents/BorderOps/ch6.htm
* http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/documents/BorderOps/photos/figure13.jpg