Checkpoint Charlie

Checkpoint Charlie – © Scholvien

It is the scene of several thrillers and espionage novels ranging from James Bond's "Octo-pussy" to "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold" by John le Carré: Check Point Charlie.

Starting on 22 September 1961 at most famous East German-West German border crossing, allied soldiers registered members of the American, British and French armed forces before their trip to East Berlin. Here foreign tourists were able to inform themselves about their stay.

Because of its role as a transition point for the members of the Allied forces, the Friedrichstraße border checkpoint in October 1961 was the scene of the so-called tank stand off. Today an installation by the artist Frank Thiel commemorates this incident as well as a plaque at the former border.

Nearby can also be found the "Berlin Wall Museum - Museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie," which again had a replica of the first Allied guardhouse set up on the median strip of the Friedrichstraße.

Audioguide

Explore the Checkpoint Charlie and other sights of major interest in Berlin with an audioguide. Just order online and upload the audioguide to your MP3 player or iPod. ...more