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Friedrichstraße, Corner Kochstraße
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Checkpoint Charlie was one of the main gateways for crossing between the two halves of Berlin during the Cold War. The naming of the checkpoints was based on the phonetic alphabet, and as this was the third such checkpoint it was given the name of Charlie.
It became a symbol of the Cold War - representing the division of East & West - and was seen as a gateway to freedom for the East Germans.
The checkpoint ceased operation when the wall was opened in 1989, and the checkpoint booth was removed in 1990. These days a replica of the booth has been erected in the same place the original once stood, along with a copy of the sign that used to mark the border crossing.
Right near the checkpoint is the Haus am Checkpoint Charlie, a private museum which opened in 1962, not long after the wall was built. The museum chronicles the history and horror of the Berlin Wall, with some amazing stories about how some people attempted to escape and in some cases succeeded. Leave a Comment
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 A picture and sculpture
displayed in CC museum by Colzy
The information contains fascinating accounts of the history of the wall itself, the operation of the American Checkpoint Charlie as well as details of many escape attempts, both the triumphant successes and the tragic faiulres. There is also a section of the museum that is devoted to anti-war leaders, an exploration of fascist leaders from many other nations and a short section on world religions.
All in all a great museum that is worth the admission price even though I still think its a bit steep 9.50 Euro. Also I was there in summer and the ventilation and air circulation was not great and got very stuffy with all the people in there but was bearable. Leave a Comment
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 Checkpoint Charlie by Gerrem
The German authorities in West and East Berlin were not allowed to check any members of the Allied Military Forces in Berlin and in Germany. Leave a Comment
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Numerous legends and agent stories are told about Checkpoint Charlie. The former border crossing point between East and West Berlin was the place where Soviet and American tanks stood face to face, after the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961.
From 1961 to 1990, Checkpoint Charlie in the »Friedrichstraße, was the only border crossing point for the Allies, foreigners, employees of the Permanent Representation and officials of the GDR. Today, the checkpoint is commemorated by a border sign and a soldier's post. A copy of the former Western Allied guardhouse was erected on the original place in 2000.
For one Euro you can get your photo taken with the guards, and also there is a stand that will stamp your passport with East German entry stamps and visas. I wasn't that impressed but my girlfriend loved it, especially when the Russian officer tried to take her away claiming their was a problem with her freshly stamped Soviet visa.
Be aware that some governments are not happy with 'toy' visa stamps in passports, but we have used hers many times since and no one has ever pointed them out at passport control and asked "What the hell is this?" so chances are they won't be a problem.
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Alfa, Bravo, Charlie ( from the Nato phonetic alphabet )
Checkpoint Charlie was without doubt a very important military post during the cold war
But now a days i feel that it is more an attraction point or even say a tourist trap.
Nothing more to see than a container of 3 by 6 meter, some sandbags - a russian and US flag and two people standing there to be photographed with tourists (fee 1 euro)
In the neighbourhood some tourist shops selling old DDR or Sovjet Union stuff
The cold war museum is maybe of any interest, but i have my doubts.
If you have really some spare time, visit this place, but there are much more interesting places to visit Leave a Comment
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This museum is a hands-on museum, it's more interesting to do things than just watch them. Trying to find the hiding place of an escapee in a car makes a bigger impression than being told about it. One of the disadvantages of this concept is however, that it is very popular with school trips. So it can get very crowded there. Leave a Comment
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 Checkpoint Charlie by MariajoyLeave a Comment
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Charlie was not a person but merely the letter "C" in the international phonetic alphabet (alpha, beta, charlie....).
Checkpoint Charlie was the main gateway (for non Germans) between East and West Berlin during the Cold War. It was here, at the intersection of Frierichstrasse and Zimmerstrasse, in October 1961, where American and Russian tanks met.
Checkpoint Charlie was the scene of demonstration after demonstration and attempted crossing after attempted crossing - some of which were successful and some of which were not.
Finally, on 22 June 1990 Checkpoint Charlie was no more, after a very soleomn ceremony.
The checkpoint you see today is a reconstruction - the original being in the museum.
The Russian flag that hangs, as old and as tattered as it is, is not the original - that too has a home in themuseum (to preserve it).
Throughout the day you can see a soldier standing at the checkpoint - his uniform and flag may be Soviet... or it may be American.
The Museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie shows some of the many various and often ingenious ways people tried to cross the border from East to West.
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 Checkpoint Charlie by diocletianvs
The nearby "Museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie" displays some cold facts about the Wall as well as imaginative and unbelievable ways of escape from the East and is well worth a visit. Leave a Comment
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When I was a small girl I read about the wall which divided Berlin into two parts and I couldn't believe it! How could a city be seriously divided?!! At that time I told myself that maybe the wall was just symbolic, and nothing else. Of course, later I realized the terrible truth and at first couldn't believe the news when the wall fell.
I visited the united Berlin and was strangely drawn to the place keeping the memories of the Berliner Wall times - the House at Checkpoint Charlie.
Visit it, and you will realize the fragility of freedom, and you will value it more.
Learn about escapes through the wall and about the joyous moment when the wall fell, ask yourself what you would be ready to do to stay or to become free. Leave a Comment
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