<P> As with military personnel, special procedures applied to travel by diplomatic personnel of the Western Allies accredited to their respective embassies in the GDR . This was intended to prevent inadvertent recognition of East German authority when crossing between East and West Berlin, which could jeopardize the overall Allied position governing the freedom of movement by Allied forces personnel within all Berlin . </P> <P> Ordinary citizens of the Western Allied powers, not formally affiliated with the Allied forces, were authorized to use all designated transit routes through East Germany to and from West Berlin . Regarding travel to East Berlin, such persons could also use the Friedrichstraße train station to enter and exit the city, in addition to Checkpoint Charlie . In these instances, such travelers, unlike Allied personnel, had to submit to East German border controls . </P> <P> During the years of the Wall, around 5,000 people successfully defected to West Berlin . The number of people who died trying to cross the Wall, or as a result of the Wall's existence, has been disputed . The most vocal claims by Alexandra Hildebrandt, Director of the Checkpoint Charlie Museum and widow of the Museum's founder, estimated the death toll to be well above 200 . A historic research group at the Center for Contemporary Historical Research (ZZF) in Potsdam has confirmed 136 deaths . Prior official figures listed 98 as being killed . </P> <P> The East German government issued shooting orders (Schießbefehl) to border guards dealing with defectors, though such orders are not the same as "shoot to kill" orders . GDR officials denied issuing the latter . In an October 1973 order later discovered by researchers, guards were instructed that people attempting to cross the Wall were criminals and needed to be shot: "Do not hesitate to use your firearm, not even when the border is breached in the company of women and children, which is a tactic the traitors have often used". </P>

Why was the falling of the berlin wall important