Culver City,
California
x
The Year 1989 Bye Charlie
Maker: Unknown
Date Made: after 1989
Country: German Democratic Republic; Germany
Materials: photograph paper; paper; cardboard; metal
Measurements: 31.5 cm x 29 cm x 7 cm; 12 3/8 in x 11 7/16 in x 2 3/4 in
Language: German
Genre/Form: binder
This black two-ring binder comprises original newspaper articles and photographs regarding the fall of the Berlin Wall and the last days of Checkpoint Charlie. In the introduction titled "Gedanken zum 9. November 1989 - Tag des Mauerfall in Berlin" (Thoughts on November 9, 1989 - Day of the Fall of the Berlin Wall), Major Peter Bochmann records his memories of that historical day. He had been a border guard at Checkpoint Charlie from 1975-1989. In addition, he devised a series of instructional manuals to train border guards in facial recognition to insure the proper identity of those crossing the border. In this collection there are several large scale photographs of an empty and unmanned Checkpoint Charlie, and of tourists gathering to look at the now obsolete checkpoint hut. Also included are copies of reports of the Passkontrolleinheiten (Passport Control Units) or PKT with instructions for border control guards, photographs of the official closing ceremony of Checkpoint Charlie and its dismantling, and newspaper articles marking the end of a divided Berlin. One particularly interesting black and white photograph shows the Allied Checkpoint Charlie hut being lifted into the air. The removal of this structure demonstrated a turning point for Berlin.Finally, many of the photographs have an official DDR Friedrich-Zimmerstrasse stamp in green and purple on the back, similar to the ones found on travel visas.
Collection/Series: Peter Bochmann Border Guard Collection
Accession Number: 2017.015.028