Berlin remembers a child’s tragic death at the Wall’s deadly border

A boy’s preventable death in 1975 reveals the Wall’s cruelest cost. This week, Berlin honors victims whose lives were stolen by division—and delay.

, and Administrator

2026 January 18 . 8:40 AM

1 min read

The image shows a memorial in Berlin, Germany, with flower bouquets, candles, photo frames, and... — The image shows a memorial in Berlin, Germany, with flower bouquets, candles, photo frames, and posters placed on the ground in front of a fence.

Berlin remembers a child’s tragic death at the Wall’s deadly border

Sixty-four years ago, on August 13, 1961, construction of the Berlin Wall began. The barrier became a brutal symbol of division, costing many lives and stripping people of their freedom. This week, memorial events will honour its victims, including a young child whose tragic death remains a painful reminder of the GDR’s border regime.

In 1975, five-year-old Çetin Mert drowned in the Spree while playing near Kreuzberg. Border guards from East Germany reacted too slowly to save him. West Berlin rescue teams, though nearby, were forbidden from entering GDR waters without authorisation—rules that delayed any chance of help.

The boy’s death was one of many under the GDR’s harsh border policies. Historian Thomas Weber recently highlighted Mert’s story ahead of the Wall’s anniversary, ensuring his memory is part of the official remembrance. On Wednesday, Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner will join ceremonies honouring Mert and other victims of the regime. The Wall’s construction in 1961 split families, trapped citizens, and turned escape attempts into deadly risks. Its legacy remains a stark warning of oppression, with memorials now marking where lives were lost.

Wednesday’s ceremonies will formally recognise those who died at the Berlin Wall, including Çetin Mert. The events serve as a reminder of the human cost behind political division. His story, like others, underscores how rigid borders and delayed action led to irreversible tragedies.