Barbed wire was the first material used to block Berlin’s border during construction of the Berlin Wall.
On the night of 12–13 August 1961, East German troops and workers rapidly placed barbed wire, temporary fences, and other basic obstacles along the boundary between East and West Berlin. The speed of this first operation was intended to prevent a mass flight to the West while avoiding an immediate, highly visible construction project.
More permanent barriers followed. The early obstacles were progressively replaced by concrete walls, fences, minefields in some areas, anti-vehicle trenches, floodlights, patrol roads, and watchtowers. The final system was therefore much more complex than the familiar concrete slabs seen in photographs.
Another common misconception is that the wall appeared fully formed on its first day. In reality, the border fortifications developed through several stages. Barbed wire marked the initial closure, while the later fourth-generation wall became the best-known structure.