My Memoirs - Citizen of the World

acquired all the documentation that was required in the 1970’s to
cross the wall from West to East Berlin passing thorough the
historical Checkpoint Charlie. It was quite an experience. The bus
from the west had to stop at the border, all the passengers had to
get off and show their passports and authorizations. All the visitors
had to walk through a zigzag path, built purposely to prevent
people from escaping to the west. I remember being met by a
female communist tour guide, dressed with a big hat and high
boots, who had a rough attitude and cautioned the entire group
that no one could walk alone anywhere when the bus stopped.
After boarding the bus again I happened to be in the seat in front
with my wife and asked the guide, “How come the East is so dark
and the roads are in such terrible shape?” She replied in a very
rude way, “The East was bombed much more than the West,
during World War II and I would like you to wait for the
information I am going to give, so don’t ask any questions,
because my explanation will overcome your questions.” I kept my
mouth shut after that, listening to her as she tried to brainwash the
tourists about how good and efficient the communist regime was.
There was such a contrast between the cleanliness and the progress
of the two Germany’s. After the tour, a couple of communist
guards came out of Checkpoint Charlie and went under the bus and
checked with a pointing stick to see if there was anyone hiding
underneath trying to escape to West Berlin.
In 2005, we again travelled to East Berlin and it was wonderful to
see the complete change of the city from what it was like when we
had visited before – a revitalized city full of lights, clean buildings
and well-paved roads and streets where people looked happy,
totally free and reunited with their families. The only thing that
resembles the old Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie is a museum
to show future generations what it was like to have the Berlin Wall
that separated millions of German families for decades.
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