because it was the checkpoint C as charlie, since there were 4 border crossings in berlin, called checkpoints. A B C D, alpha beta charlie delta. Charlie was the most important one
Checkpoint Alpha was at Marienborn on the main BRD-DDR autobahn. Chec kpoint Bravo was at Drewitz, where the autobahn entered West Berlin. Checkpoint Charlie was between West Berlin and the capital of the DDR.
I was stationed there in 1987-1988. Boring place to be, most of the time. Only foreigners and diplomats could use Charlie. Then they were subject to inspection for any contraband coming or going. If you walked in 20 to 30 minutes you were done. By automobile 2 to 3 hours.
You seem to have been unlucky; I drove through several times 1981 - 1989in a BG registered car in both directions, and never waited more than a few minutes.
Tja, dafür muss da aber erstmal jemand von den Grenzer hinlaufen, um die zu verhaften. Die DDR-Grenzer standen nicht direkt am weißen Strich Und die beiden wären dann einfach zwei Schritt zurück gegangen, wenn sie den Grenzer gesehen hätten und dann hätte sich das mit der Verhaftung erledigt. Genau aus diesem Grund wurde so etwas auch von den Grenzern übersehen, weil hin rennen hätte eh nichts gebracht.
I understand that the people of Berlin wanted to get rid of all the bad memories of the wall after it fell, but it would be nice if they kept A bigger piece of the wall / checkpoint Charlie intact
I don't think you realize that this checkpoint was right in the middle of the town and the street it was in was and is again an important North-South Axis in the city center. There are at other places parts of the wall to see ...
Das verstehe ich gut! Zur Erfüllung Ihrer Träume empfehle ich eine Übersiedlung nach Nord Korea! Ein wahrlich herrliches Land, sie werden begeistert sein.
