Word: checkpoint
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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...weeks ago, the intersection at Berlin's "Checkpoint Charlie" was taut with tension as the U.S.-on order from General Lucius Clay, President Kennedy's representative in West Berlin-sent armed convoys across the border to escort civilian-dressed military personnel into the Russian sector to demonstrate U.S. right of access. But last week, on direct orders from the State Department, the probes were called off. At the same time, Washington stopped U.S. patrols along the 110-mile Autobahn that links West Germany with the divided city. Reason: Secretary of State Dean Rusk was anxious to shift...
...Sitzkrieg at Checkpoint Charlie still performed a function: in a remarkable way it showed the world how Berlin really felt. One day last week, an elderly woman in a tattered grey coat faced a G.I. bundled on his armored personnel carrier, held out three fresh pink carnations, murmured in German, "I brought you some different colors today; God bless you!" Understanding the sentiment if not the words, the young soldier accepted the flowers with a grin, muttered "Danke schön" proudly stuffed them in the perforated barrel cooler of his 20-mm. cannon. Farther up the street a pack...
...first breach was made by Allan Lightner Jr.. State Department Assistant Chief of the Berlin Mission, and his wife, who drove their military-licensed grey Volkswagen up to the Friedrichstrasse checkpoint for East Berlin, found their way blocked by East German police. After a go-minute wait, during which they refused to show their identification to the Vopos. eight M.P.s, their rifles at the ready, walked across the border to Lightner's car, escorted the slowly driven automobile around the corner, returned the Lightners to the U.S. sector...
Three days later, the entire 6.500-man U.S. garrison in Berlin was put on alert, tanks and armored personnel carriers were rushed to the Friedrichstrasse's "Checkpoint Charlie" as two U.S. Army officers in civilian clothes, driving a grey Opel sedan, were escorted by three Jeeps filled with armed infantrymen through seven blocks of Communist territory. British Centurion tanks moved up to the Brandenburg Gate in their sector of the city...
Tanks Face Tanks. Next day, while hundreds of West Berliners watched anxiously, tension mounted. Irwin Firestone. Russian-speaking liaison officer on the staff of the Provost Marshal, moved through Checkpoint Charlie in a blue Taunus, escorted by three Jeeps filled with troops wearing bulletproof vests, while tanks idled their engines at the white line that marked the border. "I hope they are not going to start shooting," said a youthful Vopo. After a five-minute trip, Firestone returned, flashed his headlights in a signal, was again escorted by Jeeps to West Berlin...