Anachronism of late 20th century Europe, and now defunct relic of the cold war. Its memory should help serve to remind us of what can happen when one man, or another, overreaches himself. Commmenced in the wee hours of August 13, 1961, and expiring in the evening hours of November 9, 1989, built to last a century, in the end surviving a macabre 28 years. The brainchild of Walter "nobody intends to build a wall" Ulbricht, and victim of Ronald "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" Reagan.

Approximately 155km (97 miles) in length around the circumference of former West Berlin, it became the site of over 900 shootings, causing 239 deaths and another 200 injuries. Some sections are standing yet today, and can be touched, examined, and photographed. The victorious western occupation powers had access to West Berlin on land via three Allied checkpoints: 1) Alpha at Helmstedt, 2) Bravo at Drewitz, near Wannsee, and 3) Charlie in Kreuzberg. Checkpoint Charlie gained worldwide fame in October of 1961, during a powder keg standoff with the Soviets when tanks faced each point blank. The Soviets blinked first, and elevated the barrel of their lead tank. Said standoff ended peacefully enough 16 hours later.

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since 23FEB07