Germany 2001

 A ALPHA, B BRAVO, C CHARLIE. Not many people remember that the name of this notorious border crossing between the American & Soviet sectors stemmed from the word that signifies the letter C in the international phonetic alphabet. Little remains of the former crossing point, which was witness to a number of dramatic events during the Cold War, including a standoff between Russian & American tanks in 1961. 

Haus am Checkpoint Charlie is a museum with a rich collection detailing the Cold War border conflicts, and the construction of the Berlin Wall. Of particular interest is a variety of exhibits connected with the escape attempts of East Germans to the West. The ingenuity & bravery of these escapees is astonishing, using devices such as tiny secret compartments built into cars and specially-constructed suitcases. (DK 136-7)
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