Border, Politics, West, East

American GI shot dead

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Arthur Nicholson, a US soldier, is shot dead by a Soviet guard during a reconnaissance mission in the GDR.

Nicholson strayed too close to a Soviet military site near Ludwigslust, and paid for his mistake with his life.

His body is returned to the West on Glienicke Bridge, which connects Potsdam (GDR) with West Berlin.

The bridge, which the GDR called the Bridge of Unity, was often used for exchanging spies during the Cold War.

locations

  • Glienicker Brücke, Berliner Straße, 14467 Potsdam
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    1
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    52.413401
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    13.087977
  • Ludwigslust, damals DDR
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    45
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    53.3231067
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    11.4942586