The Resume

(January 14, 1944-August 17, 1962)
Shot in the pelvis and bled to death attempting to scale the Berlin Wall from East to West Berlin

Why he might be annoying:

He knew the wall was going up in 1961 but waited a year until it was completed before deciding West Berlin was the better place to live.
He was one of the wall's first victims and because of an international photo, it's most famous (see picture).
He paid the ultimate price in his quest for freedom.
Nearly 35 years later, two former East German guards were convicted of his killing (they admitted to it) but were given just one year's probation.

Why he might not be annoying:

His friend who went with him, Helmut Kulbeik, managed to successfully scale the wall and escape, though he could not help his comrade.
It took over an hour for him to die as he laid in a crumpled heap, moaning and bleeding at the wall base.
U.S. soldiers on the West side wanted to aid him, but their commanding officer with direct orders from the U.S. Commandant in West Berlin ordered them to 'stand firm and do nothing.'
In death, he became a martyr against the Eastern Bloc. Streets have been named after him, a monument was erected at the spot where he died and on the first anniversary of his death, a wreath was laid in his honor by the mayor of West Berlin.

Credit: Scar Tactics

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• 2007 - Most Annoying Public Figures (Ranked: 59)
• Born in Berlin, Germany
• Civil Rights Activists
• Cold War Participants
• I Died Before My 30th Birthday (Ranked: 18)
• I Died in 1962 (Ranked: 18)
• I Took a Bullet
• I was Murdered
• Look at Me, I'm Dead
• Profiles 17751-18000 (Ranked: 17872)
• Scar Tactics' Profiles [Series 04]
• Stand Up Men

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 7 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 15 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 28 Votes: 46.43% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 14 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 15 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 23 Votes: 43.48% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 17 Votes: 29.41% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 66 Votes: 42.42% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 107 Votes: 52.34% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 87 Votes: 37.93% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 51 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 250 Votes: 56.80% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 192 Votes: 40.62% Annoying