CHECKPOINT CHARLIE MUSEUM

Description

Essentials about the Checkpoint Charlie Museum in brief

The Checkpoint Charlie Museum, located directly at the famous and historic Checkpoint Charlie, is unique among Berlin museums. Almost simultaneously with the construction of the Berlin Wall and the tank confrontation between Americans and Soviets at Checkpoint Charlie in 1961, Rainer Hildebrandt, a private citizen and former resistance fighter against National Socialism, founded the Checkpoint Charlie Museum. Its mission: to both document and support escape plans and escape attempts from the GDR.

The history of the Checkpoint Charlie Museum

Originally housed in his own apartment, one year later the Checkpoint Charlie Museum was accommodated in the current building directly on the former border between East and West at Checkpoint Charlie – in keeping with Hildebrandt’s motto: “To be as close as possible to injustice, that’s where human greatness unfolds most strongly.” Hildebrandt’s museum soon developed into a focal point for refugees, aid workers, journalists and demonstrators. Flight helpers supplied the house at Checkpoint Charlie with vehicles, aids and personal mementos.

The exhibition of the Checkpoint Charlie Museum

Today, the Checkpoint Charlie Museum is best known for its numerous original objects from 30 years of history. Cars, hot air balloons and other “means of transport” tell the stories of successful and unsuccessful escape attempts from the GDR. For example, there is an old Volkswagen with a trunk hiding place, a mini-submarine and a suitcase pushed together. In addition, the Checkpoint Charlie Museum has supplementary permanent exhibitions that provide information about the history of human rights movements and the struggle for human rights that still continues in many countries around the world.