For nearly thirty years until the end of the Cold War, Berlin lay divided both physically and ideologically by the infamous Berlin Wall that snaked through the now united German capital. The wall was erected mainly to prevent East Germans from defecting to the West. Citizens from East Germany were strictly forbidden to travel to the other side. West Germans and citizens of other countries, however, could visit East Germany after applying for a visa.

The 155-km long wall had nine border crossings that allowed visitors from the West, Allied personnel, foreigners etc. into the Soviet controlled East Berlin. The most famous of this crossings was the checkpoint at the corner of Friedrichstraße and Zimmerstraße, named Checkpoint Charlie.

Two actors dressed as Cold War circa American guards stand at a replica of Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin. Photo credit: Shadowgate/Flickr