A Time For Peace Trivia Quiz

Answer: Checkpoint Alpha

The Inner Border was the land that formed the border between East and West Germany. It was 858 miles (1381 km) long, and was established during the Potsdam Conference to provide a boundary between the Soviet line of occupation with the other Western Allies. The Soviet side was well fortified with towers, barbed wire, and 50,000 armed guards. Allied and NATO troops were stationed on the other side, ready to act in the event that war should break out.

Post WWII Germany fact: The Allies met at Yalta and Potsdam to discuss what would happen to German territory after WWII was over. It was decided to divide the land into four zones of occupation, held by the Soviet Union, Britain, France, and the United States.

Answer: Checkpoint Alpha

Called Checkpoint Helmstedt by West Germans and Grenzübergang Marienborn by East Germans, the Helmstedt-Marienborn border crossing was named after the two nearby towns. The Western Allies called it Checkpoint Alpha. It was considered to be the busiest, most important checkpoint that led to West Berlin; both railway and Autobahn motor vehicle traffic used it from 1945-1990. Traveling east after checking through, one saw nothing but walls or fences for 106 miles (170 km) that stretched until the next checkpoint. There was no getting on or getting off - just moving along so as not to be accused of going too fast or too slow for one reason or another.

Post WWII Germany fact: Since the important city of Berlin was located entirely within the Soviet zone, it was also divided among the four main Allied countries, resulting in the division of East Berlin and West Berlin. This divided occupation began in the city in 1945.

Answer: Checkpoint Alpha

From the viewpoint of the Germans, Checkpoint Alpha was the main way through from one side to the other, or the "Eye of the Needle". The Royal Military Police from the UK and the Group of Soviet Occupation Forces originally manned the checkpoint. Over time, however, it was staffed with an estimated 1,000 East Germans who checked passports, controlled customs, and acted as border police. All of the official buildings were linked with underground tunnels, so that help could arrive quickly if needed. In 1973 the original checkpoint was moved about a mile (1.5 km) east of the old one.

Post WWII Germany fact: Checkpoints Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie were named after the first three letters of the NATO phonetic alphabet. The Western Allies (minus the Soviet Union) called the locations checkpoints because they did not like to use the term border, which made it seem that they were recognizing the new country of East Germany after 1949. Although 12 checkpoints along the Berlin Wall were eventually constructed, these were the three main checkpoints that allowed passage from East Berlin to West Berlin.

Answer: Checkpoint Bravo

Checkpoint Bravo was directly located on the A 115 motorway, which was important for its direct transport from West Germany to West Berlin after WWII. Used for regular travel and freight traffic, those wishing to pass through had to undergo an intense scrutiny from the police and customs officers.

Post WWII Germany fact: The Soviets were unhappy with the arrangement in Berlin. By 1948 they attempted to drive the other Allies out of the city by imposing a blockade on supplies that could enter West Berlin. The Allies responded with the Berlin Airlift, and the Soviets called off the blockade in 1949.

Answer: Checkpoint Bravo

Grenzübergangsstelle Drewitz-Dreilinden was named Checkpoint Bravo by the Allies. The Germans named it for the town of Drewitz and the forest of Dreilinden which was driven through to the checkpoint while either coming or going. In 1969 the checkpoint was moved from Drewitz to Nikolassee. This was done because after leaving Drewitz in West Germany, travelers would again briefly enter East Germany before their re-entry into West Germany.

Post WWII Germany fact: In 1949 Germany was split into two separate countries - the German Democratic Republic, known as East Germany, was controlled by the Soviets. The Federal Republic of Germany, known as West Germany, was formed from the three occupation zones held by the other Allies.

Answer: Checkpoint Bravo

At 109 miles (176 km), Checkpoint Bravo was the closest motor vehicle crossing to Checkpoint Alpha, and shortest highway route between West Germany and West Berlin. For that reason, it was the checkpoint that was used by Allied military troops when moving into East Germany on their way to West Berlin.

Post WWII Germany fact: By 1958, however, tensions again began to rise. The Soviets were embarrassed by the flow of refugees, especially young professionals, from east to west. Meetings were held, however, no real change was made.

Answer: Checkpoint Charlie

Post WWII Germany fact: The situation in East and West Germany came to a head in 1961, when refugees began absolutely pouring out of East Germany. In June 19,000 left the country through Berlin, and the following month a record 30,000 left. August 12, 1961, saw the largest number of refugees leave in a day at 2400.

In June of 1961 the U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev were participating in a summit in Vienna to discuss Cold War issues. Khrushchev demanded that the Western Allies withdraw all their forces in East and West Berlin. There was growing concern regarding what was called the "brain drain" of young educated professionals leaving East Germany through Berlin, where free travel was still allowed.

The leaders did not reach a consensus with the issue, and in August the East German ordered that the border should be closed and a wall built around West Berlin. In October there was a brief standoff of Soviet and American tanks at Checkpoint Charlie after a disagreement about the free movement of Western Allies movement in the area. The two leaders agreed to withdraw their tanks.

Answer: Checkpoint Charlie

Post WWII Germany Fact: On August 13, 1961, Premier Krushchev of the Soviet Union gave the order to build a wall - at first of barbed wire and concrete - in Berlin. In a short time, construction began on a a larger, permanent concrete wall, complete with a death strip fence and land mines.

Checkpoint Charlie was located at the junction of Friedrichstraße with Zimmerstraße and Mauerstraße. Friedrichstraße was a major shopping street in Berlin, and also had a railway station. People could either walk or drive through Checkpoint Charlie; this included members of the Western Allied forces or foreigners, who were not allowed to use the checkpoint at Berlin Friedrichstraße, the train station.

Answer: Checkpoint Charlie

Peter Fechter was a young East German man who who shot by East German guards while trying to escape East Germany on August 17, 1962. He bled to death while everyone just watched, as he was caught in barbed wire in the Soviet sector. Guards from both sides stood there, afraid to provoke the other into armed action. On the Western Allied side a mass demonstration erupted to protest the actions of both groups.

Post WWII Germany fact: People tried to somehow overcome the wall in rather ingenious ways, including the use of hot air balloons and and crawling through sewers. Records show that at least 171 were killed while trying to escape.

Answer: Checkpoint Charlie

Cafe Adler was located right at Checkpoint Charlie. Reportedly the hangout of spies, along with a variety of different types of people from both sides, it originally served as a pharmacy. It was a place where people could seek shelter, eat, and watch the events that took place at the border crossing between East and West Berlin either from the sidewalk or inside. There is a story that East German guards used binoculars to watch the pretty girls who were waitresses there.

Today Cafe Adler is known as Einstein Kaffee. The previous owner said he sold the business because the site had changed, and there was no more room for outside seating.

Post WWII Germany fact: In 1989, a nearly bankrupt East Germany took advantage of the new Soviet policy of "glasnost" and on November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall officially fell.