Checkpoint Charlie - November, 1986 - Berlin
Checkpoint Charlie was the most famous of the entry points to East Berlin (others being the S-Bahn Friedrichstrasse station, Invalidenstrasse, and Schönefeld airport). This photo was taken looking north on Friedrichstrasse near Kochstrasse. The Western exit point is in the foreground, and the East Berlin entry point is in the background. When you entered East Berlin, you had to exchange DM 25 (about US $10 at the time) for M 25 (East German marks), which were worthless outside the GDR. I always thought of it as an admission ticket, but you could buy a lot of good pastries and ride the U-Bahn for that money. Today, there is a Checkpoint Charlie museum here, with masses of tourists taking selfies in front of the "Sie Verlassen Jetzt West Berlin" sign.
Who knows, the guy in the trench coat might have been a spy.
Checkpoint Charlie - November, 1986 - Berlin
Checkpoint Charlie was the most famous of the entry points to East Berlin (others being the S-Bahn Friedrichstrasse station, Invalidenstrasse, and Schönefeld airport). This photo was taken looking north on Friedrichstrasse near Kochstrasse. The Western exit point is in the foreground, and the East Berlin entry point is in the background. When you entered East Berlin, you had to exchange DM 25 (about US $10 at the time) for M 25 (East German marks), which were worthless outside the GDR. I always thought of it as an admission ticket, but you could buy a lot of good pastries and ride the U-Bahn for that money. Today, there is a Checkpoint Charlie museum here, with masses of tourists taking selfies in front of the "Sie Verlassen Jetzt West Berlin" sign.
Who knows, the guy in the trench coat might have been a spy.