Germany: Berlin – Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie in Berlinwas a border checkpoint between East and West Berlin during the Cold War, with Soviet and American tanks facing each other within just meters for several decades. Checkpoint Charlie served as a crossing point for Allied personnel, foreigners, and diplomats traveling between East and West Berlin. It was also a site where many espionage incidents happened (later featured in many movies like Atomic Blonde). You could even get your passport stamped here when crossing from FRG to GDR and back. The distinctive guardhouse tower has been restored and there is a museum nearby. Interestingly, Checkpoint Charlie comes from the military phonetic alphabet (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie), where “Charlie” represents the letter ‘C,’ standing for the third checkpoint.
