Berlin - Checkpoint Charlie

'Checkpoint Charlie' was the colloquial name for a crossing point between the former East and West Berlin (Russian and American sectors of the divided city).

Although it first came into being in 1945, after the 1961 erection of the wall it became one of the few crossing points between the two sections of the divided city. It was restricted to military officers and non Germans only.

Germans had to use other crossing points.




Its official title was Grenzübergang Friedrichstrasse. It was located at the southern part of Friedrichstrasse - near to Kochstrasse U-Bahn station in West Berlin, with Stadtmitte being the nearest open U-Bahn station in East Berlin.

Nowadays very little remains of this crossing point - the wall, watch towers, wooden shed used by the US military... these were all removed after German reunification in October 1990.

For tourists there is now a replica of the original US military checkpoint shed and large photographs of US and Soviet Russian solders stand guard admitting people to their own sectors. The former wall is now delineated on the ground by a double row of cobblestones. (As seen at the end of this film).

This film shows video footage taken in April 1990 plus still image photographs taken in December 1989 and July 2005. There is footage on both sides of the wall, although for reasons of personal security the footage of the Eastern side of the crossing point is somewhat minimal. Nevertheless it is possible to see the arrangement of frosted glass screens which made it virtually impossible to see the crossing point from the East.

More information about Checkpoint Charlie can be found here..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkpoint_Charlie

Replacing the 'en' with other language codes will also reveal other language versions of this page, with further photographs and information, if such pages exist. eg - de (German), es (Spanish), nl (Dutch), fr (French) etc.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Berlin
• Checkpoint
• Charlie
• wall
• mauer
• Berliner
• U-Bahn
• Stadtmitte
• Kochstrasse
• Grenzübergang
• Friedrichstrasse
• DDR

[citytransportinfo]

soon we will be meeting people who were not born from mothers on Earth.

Possibly before Christmas. Some of these people will look so similar to us that you would only know this if you were told.

Simon

Simon

[NKCrime]

@citytransportinfo not seriously xD 

[citytransportinfo]

@NKCrime first we have to get past the G20 meeting next week, when the US$ may face serious issues and perhaps even worse. To learn more read up about Clif High, the web bots (webbots / webots). The reunification of Berlin happened when the Soviet system collapsed. The speculation is that the western capitalist system is about to go the same way too. The budget deficits are too great and banks too broke. Possibly within less than a week from now. (7th Nov)

[boozouz]

0:08 what is the name of the U station???

I was 22 when I visited in 82 west and east berlin.  I remember going in an tunnel or a U station to east berlin. There we went to a small green cabin pistashio color & mirror coverded walls. then my passport was stamped it was really nice to visit. But people looked so strict and were very serious, perhaps their were afraid to talk to us or being watched by police.

[citytransportinfo]

@boozouz I think this is Koch Strasser.

Simon

[desireseonards6554]

vóll_geìl_súcht_mÄl_ÑÁch:_geld­easy_aúf_gôogle

[aranterranting]

How could anybody believe in this communist crap. It beggars belief!!!

[jonojms]

Change your phone!

[Bonelessz]

@FSUxProductions I came here cuz i love hostory :)

[401RoadWarrior]

Visited E Berlin in '81, '83 and '85, living in RO at that time, Berlin Wall will ever stay in mind for the rest of my life.

GOD BLESS FREEDOM

[vilnius194]

1:02 Soviet hats, i want to buy one, awsome I would go If the East was still there, and USSR, but now its a piece of shit, and no one cares...

[KilonBerlin]

@citytransportinfo Thanks for visiting our city :) It is maybe not beautiful in every part, but which major city is? The history of Berlin is interesting, I wish I knew the old U-Bahn and S-Bahn routes, the S-Bahn which drove through Friedrichstraße. I think more than 1 line drove from west to west through east-berlin, the U8 is going from north to south through "Mitte" (district named "middle") in the east, it stopped at Moritzplatz thats what I know and restarted maybe at Gesundbrunnen?!

[liverpoolledge16]

@citytransportinfo The other language i think you're looking for it French! Remember, Berlin and Germany was divided between Britain, France, America and Russia! =)

[bodyharvester18]

@FSUxProductions NO KID

[devon0627]

i came her because call of duty black ops map pack