Checkpoint Crappy
3 Comments I just took an entire day tour– 8 hours of walking– given by Berwer’s Berlin Tours. I have had an incredible time on that tour learning things that I probably wouldn’t have known otherwise. I’ll have a more comprehensive writeup on the day some time later. I just wanted to share funny facts about the famous Checkpoint Charlie of Berlin.
First of all, the place is crawling with tourists… I mean, a lot… and most of these tourists won’t know how much of a trap it really is. First some pictures:
The checkpoint structure, of which the guards stand in front, is not the original one. It was constructed to catch the tourists. It is in fact a recreation of the old 1950’s style checkpoint that once stood there. The actual checkpoint grew into something much larger up to the point of the wall collapsing.
The “East German Guard”– female– offers to stamp your passport with an East German passport stamp for about 2 euro. DO NOT DO THIS. That stamp will invalidate your passport because, well, you are not allowed to mess with your passport.
The large pictures of, back to back, the East German and American soldiers [Updated: Feb2007]are fake were taken after the fall of the wall. I don’t think I actually have a picture, but did take video of them. They are fake, as pointed out by the guide, because they were taken in about 1994. The East German soldier’s uniform has a Russian Federation flag. The American soldier has medals from Kuwait pinned to his uniform. Hmm, an astute historian will find the timing of the Russian Federation and the 1991 Kuwait war a bit after the Berlin Wall coming down. [Updated: Feb2007] Although, it turns out that they were indeed soldiers that served in Berlin before the wall falling.
Another, unpictured, famous sign of Checkpoint Charlie stands next to the large back-to-back pictures. It is in fact another replica. The original is kept in the museum next to the replicas outside.
The guards standing in front of the checkpoint only ask 1 euro each for a picture… Sure it sounds like a fun picture opportunity… Here’s the funny bit… All the guards pictured above have another job (this checkpoint is for extra money)… They are all strippers, and this is the van they ride in everyday to work:
By the way, I am such a tourist… I had to take a picture anyways.
nice bag
Comment by jen — June 26, 2006 @ 8:18 am
The pictures at Checkpoint Charlie are not faked. I am the American (still in the Army) and was stationed in Berlin from 89-94. true, they were taken after the fall of the wall, but we did both serve there while it was still up.
Jeff
Comment by jeff — February 23, 2007 @ 9:59 pm
Jeff,
Thank you for the correction. I have updated the post.
-Ben
Comment by Ben — February 23, 2007 @ 11:53 pm