It is interesting to look at the famous place of confrontation between the two powers? The Germans saved him. This is a Charlie checkpoint booth, next to which there are 2-3 soldiers dressed in American uniforms (it costs money to take a picture with him), a piece of the Berlin Wall and a museum.
Checkpoint Charlie, photo fam_dax
Checkpoint Charlie (Checkpoint Charlie; Checkpoint "C") is a checkpoint on Friedrichstrasse, the only border crossing point from West Berlin to East from 1961 to 1990 for foreigners, GDR officials and their allies. It arose after the construction of the Berlin Wall on August 13, 1961 and became a symbol of the contradictions between the USSR and the USA.
Tank confrontation
Checkpoint Charlie, photo by Friedrich_Berlin
The West was not pleased with the appearance of the Berlin Wall. In the fall of 1961, the Berlin crisis erupted. Its culmination was the "tank confrontation." For almost 2 days, the world was on the verge of World War III.
On October 27-28, 1961, the Americans planned to cross the border and demolish the border barriers that divided Berlin. Germany and West Berlin were not involved in this action.
Military intelligence of the Soviet Union found out about the upcoming sabotage, a Soviet tank company advanced towards the Americans. And when American military equipment, consisting of 3 jeeps, several bulldozers and 10 tanks moved to the checkpoint, the jeeps were missed, and Soviet tanks blocked the way for American tanks. Bulldozers were blocked, and the tanks stood all night with the muzzle pointing at each other. In addition, Soviet fighters completely blocked the West Berlin Tepmelgof airfield. So the Americans no longer counted on outside support. The Cold War has never been so hot ...
Tank Confrontation, photo Christopher John SSF
They say that the American command was struck by the discipline of Soviet tankmen, since for all the time none of them got out of the tank. In the morning an order came from Moscow, and Soviet troops retreated back to nearby streets. Half an hour later, American bulldozers and tanks retreated. The Berlin crisis was resolved by the West's actual recognition of the border of the GDR.
Charlie PPC Museum Open Air
Photo of a Soviet soldier, photo Jeanne Menjoulet
Photo of an American soldier, photo Michelangelo Delu
Today, an open-air museum is set up at this place. In the middle of the street there is an American guardhouse, sandbags lie nearby, and 2 large shields are installed. The first is written in 4 languages: "You are leaving West Berlin." On the second: on the one hand - a photo of a Soviet soldier (in Russian uniform); on the other - American. Next to the former checkpoint are two or three brave guys in American (or Soviet) uniforms. Tourists are happy to take pictures with them. Checkpoint Charlie captured in many films about spies, was repeatedly mentioned in espionage novels. At the crossroads, photo exhibitions about the Cold War period are often organized.
Berlin Wall Museum
Museum House at Checkpoint Charlie (Museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie), photo by Raimond Spekking
In one of the neighboring houses with the checkpoint, historian Rainer Hildebrandt organized the Berlin Wall Museum (Mauermuseum) on June 14, 1963 or the Museum House at Checkpoint Charlie (Museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie). At first, the exposition spoke about the struggle for human rights, and later it was supplemented with stories of successful escape from the GDR to the territory of Germany and the attempts made.
Opposite the famous checkpoint there is no less famous cafe Adler, present in many pictures. But in the season there are many tourists.
How to get there
Take the U6 underground to Kochstraße station.
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