Check Point Charlie

Checkpoint Charlie was the name given to the best-known Berlin Wall crossing point between East and West Berlin during the Cold War. Checkpoint Charlie became a symbol of the Cold War, representing the separation of East and West. The checkpoint was initially erected in October 1961, as a simple wooden shed. It was replaced with a permanent structure in 1962. The checkpoint was manned by Soviet and American soldiers, who checked the passports of people travelling between East and West Berlin. In November 1989, the Berlin Wall fell and Checkpoint Charlie was abandoned. The checkpoint was demolished in 1990. A few fragments of the checkpoint remain on the site, which is now a tourist attraction.