Checkpoint Charlie

„C“ for „Charlie“ is an alphabetic code: Checkpoint „Alpha“ in Helmstedt (crossing point Federal Republic/GDR), „Bravo“ in Dreilinden (crossing point GDR/West Berlin), and „Charlie“ on Friedrichstraße (crossing point American/Soviet sector). At Checkpoint Charlie, only passable by diplomats and foreigners, the USA and Soviet Union faced each other – a situation that escalated to the point of a tank confrontation. Here, too, the Western powers became guardians for the „island“ of West Berlin.

On 1 September 1961 the US Army constructed the first consultation and checkpoint. In the middle of Friedrichstraße, across from house number 207, a car was positioned to monitor visitor traffic.

The first Allied control barracks of Checkpoint Charlie, constructed 22 September 1961, were first operated by the US Army exclusively. After 1962 British and French military police were also stationed there.

Relatives of members of the armed forces had to wear a uniform when travelling to East Berlin. All American family members who wished to visit East Berlin only needed to present their valid American passports to verify their identity.

In contrast to the monstrous Wall and the structures of the East Berlin border crossing at Friedrich-/Zimmerstraße, the Western Allies had only the small control barracks.

With the fall of the Wall and Reunification, the checkpoint became irrelevant and was removed on 22 June 1990 in a festive ceremony involving the foreign ministers of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the Soviet Union, the GDR and the Federal Republic of Germany.

„Where is Checkpoint Charlie?“

Years after the Wall fell, it was suddenly discovered that in the euphoria of German Reunification, much that should have been preserved for posterity had been torn down and forgotten.

The first step toward giving Checkpoint Charlie a face again was initiated by our Mauermuseum in 1998: the display of the (true to the original) copy of the sector sign „You are leaving the American sector“ at its historical location. The original sign is housed in the museum.

The faithful reconstruction of the first Allied control barracks at Checkpoint Charlie was built at the original site by our Mauermuseum – Museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie as a memorial for the services performed by the Western Allies for a free Berlin. On 13 August 2000 the control barracks were inaugurated in the presence of diplomats, politicians and journalists from around the world.