What was the name of the famous border checkpoint at Friedrichstraße?

The famous border checkpoint at Friedrichstraße was Checkpoint Charlie. It stood at the junction of Friedrichstraße and Zimmerstraße in Berlin, where the Berlin Wall divided the American and Soviet sectors.

Checkpoint Charlie was established in 1961 and became the best-known crossing point for foreign visitors, diplomats, and Allied military personnel. Unlike ordinary Berliners, these groups were permitted to cross under the special four-power arrangements governing the city.

Its name came from the NATO phonetic alphabet: “Charlie” represents the letter C. The other major Allied checkpoints were Checkpoint Alpha at Helmstedt and Checkpoint Bravo near Dreilinden. Soviet and East German authorities used more formal names, including Friedrichstraße Crossing Point.

The checkpoint became a powerful symbol of the Cold War, especially after a tense tank confrontation between American and Soviet forces nearby in October 1961. The original guard facilities were removed after reunification, but a reconstructed booth and museum now mark the historic site.