Checkpoint Charlie, Iain MacGregor

 

Of the three checkpoints between West Berlin and East Germany check point Charlie is probably the most famous and notorious. Being in the center of Berlin it’s the focus point of two army’s that are on the brink of war. It’s also the staging point for all the ‘diplomatic crossings’ to east Berlin and where tourists rom the west can enter East Berlin for sightseeing trips or to take advantage of cheaper goods that can only be bought in the east such as Dresden and Mason tableware. 

The author delves deep into the politics of post World War Two Germany and the reasons behind the creation of the Berlin Wall before taking you through the history of the only checkpoint to link East and West in the city. He’ll guide you through what it was like to use the checkpoint as a tourist or journalist knowing the the East German secret police Stasi are watching you’re every move with suspicion. The ‘diplomatic’ missions sent into the east to gather information and the hair raising chases and deliberate crashes staged to disrupt these missions. Of course no book about Berlin during the Cold War would be complete without the details of escape attempts and from tunnels to balloons the author has that cover too. 

If you have an interest in Berlin during the Cold War then it’s a great book with lots of first hand accounts, you really feel the tension of the Cold War and it’s like being in a black and white spy film. Pick it up and give it a go. 

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Have fun stay safe 👍