Signboard, East Germany, 1985 (c)

Plastic signboard collected by British Commanders'-in-Chief Mission to the Soviet Forces in Germany (BRIXMIS) in East Germany during the Cold War, 1985 (c).

'Sperrgebiet' means 'Forbidden territory', or Restricted Area.

The sign translates as:

'Restricted AreaNo entry by unauthorised personsDriving and the pictures are prohibited.Violators will be punished'

These signs were used in East Germany to denote areas where people could not go - normally near Soviet or East German military facilities and the Inner German Border. They were prized souvenirs for those in BRIXMIS.