Berliner Innenstadt in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Germany — Northeast German Plain (The European Plain)
Checkpoint Charlie Site
Photographed by James Hulse, March 6, 2026
1. Checkpoint Charlie Site Marker
[Panel 1:]
During the time Germany and Berlin were divided by THE WALL, the sign which symbolizes world history was standing here: The victorious powers of World War II and the two Germanies confronted each other here, and the Western powers defended the fundamental rights of the special Berlin-Status until the confrontation between USA/USSR tanks.
This sign is a copy. The original sign still exists and can be seen in the Haus am Checkpoint Charlie – 40 meters from here.
The US-Military Forces in Berlin – on the order of the US-Chief of Staff, Colonel Baker – gave this valuable sign as present to the Haus am Checkpoint Charlie on February 22, 1991 in appreciation of its work.
When THE WALL came down, avalanches of freed people began to move. The separation of the two worlds, East and West, ended without a bloodbath. Special thanks is therefore owed to the numerous victims of the resistance on the other side of THE WALL and to the protective powers for their commitment to West-Berlin.
[Photos: (1) Soviet and American tanks at the checkpoint in 1961; (2) Overhead view of the Friedrichstraße-Zimmerstraße intersection in 1977]
[Panel 2 - U.S. Army signage at Checkpoint Charlie:]
Carrying weapons off duty forbidden
Obey traffic rules
Носить оружие запрещено в неслужебное время
Повинуйтесь дорожным правилам
Défense de porter des armes en dehors du service
Obéissez aux règles de circulation
U.S. Army
Erected 1991 by Haus am Checkpoint Charlie Museum and U.S. Army.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics
this page online
Location. 52° 30.449′ N, 13° 23.423′ E. Marker is in Berlin, in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg. It is in Berliner Innenstadt. It is on Friedrichstraße just south of Zimmerstraße. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Berlin 10969, Germany. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, Central Europe, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Holy Roman Empire, the former West Germany, and at the Berlin Wall.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Panzerkonfrontation am Checkpoint Charlie / Checkpoint Charlie Tank Standoff (here, next to this marker); Checkpoint Charlie (a few steps from this marker); Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev (within shouting distance of this marker); Brezhnev Memorial Plaque (within shouting distance of this marker); Fourth-Generation Berlin Wall Segment (within shouting distance of this marker); Zimmerstraße 14/15 (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Frontlinie des Kalten Krieges / Front Line of the Cold War (about 120 meters away); Zimmerstrasse (about 150 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berlin.
Also see . . .
1. Checkpoint Charlie. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on June 9, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)
2. "Ich_bin_ein_Berliner" - JFK Speech, June 25, 1963. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on June 10, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)
Additional keywords. Military
Photographed by James Hulse, March 6, 2026
2. Checkpoint Charlie Site Marker
Photographed by Richard E. Miller, May 26, 2012
3. Checkpoint Charlie Site - view north toward Zimmerstraße
Photographed by Richard E. Miller, May 26, 2012
4. Checkpoint Charlie Site - view across Friedrichstraß with Checkpoint Charlie Museum in background
Photographed by Richard E. Miller, May 26, 2012
5. Checkpoint Charlie Site - Friedrichstraße and Zimmerstraße
JFK Library, 1963
6. President John F. Kennedy and party at the Berlin Wall-Checkpoint Charlie, 1963
via C-SPAN Video Library, unknown
7. Berlin Crisis of 1961
C-SPAN Video Library website entry
Click for more information.
Click for more information.
Photographed by Richard E. Miller, May 26, 2012
8. Checkpoint Charlie Site Marker Panel 2
Photographed by Richard E. Miller, May 26, 2012
9. Checkpoint Charlie Site Marker Panel 1
Credits. This page was last revised on August 31, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 9, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,064 times since then and 295 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 31, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 9, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 7. submitted on June 4, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 8, 9. submitted on June 9, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
