Gueffroy and Gaudian based their decision to try to flee over the wall on mistaken beliefs that the Schießbefehl, the standing order to shoot anyone who attempted to cross the wall, had been lifted (it had not), and that the Swedish prime minister was to pay a state visit to East Berlin (he had already left when they attempted their escape). Their attempted escape from East Berlin to West Berlin, along the Britz district canal would take place on the night of 5–6 February 1989, about two kilometres from what would be Gueffroy's last residence on Südostallee 218, Johannisthal, Treptow, East Berlin.[7] Climbing the last metal lattice fence, the two were discovered and came under fire from the NVA border troops.