Charlie Checkpoint

Checkpoint Charlie was the central border crossing point between the American and Russian sectors in the centre of divided Berlin. The northern access to the border installation in East Berlin was called Grenzubergangsstelle (border crossing point) Friedrichstasse.

 

 

 

Checkpoint Charlie was geographically located directly on the district border between mitte and krenuzberg. The city reforms of 1920 had created this border. Checkpoint Charlie was directly at the corner of Friedrichstrasse and the southern the side of Zimmerstrasse. Through the political creation of the frontier in 1961, the historical city wall, which stood here until 1750 at what was then the end of the Friedrichstrasse was more or less retraced geographically.   

Even today, Mauerstrasse (meaning wall street), which marked the historical course of the first city wall and has nothing to do with the political wall (1961-1989), is located on the former East side behind checkpoint Charlie. The city wall of old Berlin continued on through Zimmerstrasse and then eastward to spittlemarkt and Alexanderplatz.

With the expansion of the city in the late eighteenth century, Friedrichstrasse was extended southward. At the new end of Friedrichstrasse(1850), Hallesches Tor became the new southern most historical city gate. 

 

 

Checkpoint Charlie was the most central checkpoint and the only one between an east and west sector of Berlin.

Alpha and Bravo were crossings from west sectors to the state territory of the GDP to which East Berlin did not belong according to its allied status. Therefore, Charlie became particularly significant.

 

 

 

The four allied powers- the USA, Great Britain and France as the western allies and Russia as the east ally had created three international border crossing points. They received the names Alpha, Bravo and Charlie. The way A, B and C can be named when spelling in English. The four allied powers- the USA, Great Britain and France as the western allies and Russia as the east ally had created three international border crossing points. They received the names Alpha, Bravo and Charlie. The way A, B and C can be named when spelling in English. 

 

 

 

 

 

Students getting friendly with the beautiful carriage horses near Charlie Checkpoint.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advertisement