1960s West German Border Wall Metal Mine Warning Sign

Europe, West Germany, ca. mid-1960s to 1980s CE. A striking reminder of the grim history of the Cold War, this is a metal sign from the 850 mile-long border wall that separated East and West Germany (the Berlin Wall was related but not a part of this wall), warning of landmines - "Minen" it declares in German, below a skull and crossbones, the letters and motif painted in black on a grey - once white - background. Four tiny holes, one at each corner, show how it would have been affixed for display. The mining of this border began in 1966 and by the 1980s, more than 1.3 million mines of Soviet manufacture had been laid along it, designed to be activated by stepping on them or tripping a wire. West Germans marked these mines with signs like this one; on the East German side, there were no visible warnings. Size: 8.25" W x 11.75" H (21 cm x 29.8 cm)

Provenance: private J.Hallen collection, Beaverton, Oregon, USA, acquired in the early 2000s

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#151128 Dimensions: Condition Report: Slight bending to form, with some wear to the paint as shown. Word and symbol are clear. Metal underneath has dark patina.