[2] Arnstadt, a captain of the Border Troops of the German Democratic Republic, was shot and killed by Bundesgrenzschutz officer Hans Plüschke near Wiesenfeld during a shootout that occurred under unknown circumstances.

Arnstadt's section contained the highly-strategic Fulda Gap, which aroused the special interest of NATO, and a short distance from the US Army's Observation Post Alpha.

Arnstadt moved with his wife to Wiesenfeld and in April 1957 became an unofficial collaborator (Geheimer Informator) of the Ministry for State Security (Stasi) until this relationship was ended fourteen months later.

Additionally, Arnstadt was promoted to captain, received good grades and been awarded several times, including the Medal for Exemplary Border Service.

East Germany portrayed Arnstadt as a defender of the territory of the German Democratic Republic, styled as a folk hero and had several public institutions named in his honor.

[5] Plüschke's death prompted a number of conspiracy theories in Germany as he was fatally shot in his right eye, the same wound that had killed Arnstadt almost 36 years earlier, near to Wiesenfeld, and had not been robbed.

Police formed a Special Commission to investigate Plüschke's murder, but this was dissolved in the summer due to lack of leads and put on hiatus until any new information was discovered.