Overall, many more than 5,000 persons, so-called Wall breakers, succeeded in passing the Wall; over 3,200 were arrested while attempting to escape and, as a rule, they were sentenced to several years in prison.

Many more than 100 people were killed attempting to cross the Wall, over 200 were wounded by shots. Because extreme secrecy was maintained in the GDR regarding such matters research on the exact figures is not yet complete.