"Ich hab einen Koffer in Berlin" Berlin by Sirvictor

"Ich hab einen Koffer in Berlin" sung by Hildegart Knef

Check Point Charlie

During my official stay at Berlin on a very good sunday morning I wanted to visit the other Germany the "East Germans" I walked all the way to Check Point Charlie. Just beside the wall seperating the two worlds there was a platform where the tourists could easly spectate the other side. On the same platform the late US President John Kennedy held his very famous speech which ended "Ich bin ein Berliner". Later I decided to cross the other part. The passage was barricated in zic zac barbed line. To cross the military zone one must walk within the zic zac path to and fro. It took nearly l5 minutes. On the East German side there were porgy, unfriendly looking East German Zoll/Duane/Custom officials. They controlled my pass and cashed 20 East German Marks againts West German Marks for my expenditure within their unfriendly border. I went through deserted places around to Alexander Platz. On the way I saw the German Reichtag and some other Nazi Government buildings still in ruins. At Alexanderplazt I ate a Wiener Schnitzel at a restaurant where I paid 8 East German Marks. I had 12 East German Marks left. After a while I was tired of walking without any destination I decited to return. At Check Point Charly East german figures took my 12 Marks and gave me a recipt of their National Bank. They said that if I came again I should bring that receipt and get my money back. I protested. I said that they diddnt warned me during my enterence in their country.
I still have the receipt in my archiv.

Brandenburg

Images: courtesy of my college Mr. Korkut Gursoy of Turkiye Is Bankasi A.S. Ankara