During the existence of the GDR about 1000 of its citizens were shot at the border.

The basic agreement known as Grundlagenvertrag, as signed in December 1972, arranged and controlled the transit to West – Berlin, the visits in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the circumstances in the border area. A so called Standing Representance of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) was employed in East  Berlin instead of an embassy.

Resulting from the basic agreement regulating transit traffic and a steady representation (instead of establishing embassies), the border commision was founded immediatly after. This institution drew up documents which made it possible for both sides to inform each other (GIP; border check point) in case of any disturbances and to take necessary steps against them.

The Federal Border Guard (BGS) for this part of the border had its head quarters in Lübeck and departments in Ratzeburg. The task of the BGS was to observe and to registrate the adherence of border markings and movements of the eastern border troops, and also works that had to be carried out within the restricted zone. Furthermore it handled the transit traffic and cared for people who succeeded to escape.

Contact between the Federal and the East German border patrol was impossible, because it was prohibited to the latter, which was not the case until 1962. Ever since the dialogue was practised via the check point by especially appointed members of the border troops. After the opening of the border it was reported, that sometimes a waving of hands by the western guards was responded to by carefully lifting ones hand or simply by nodding.