What is checkpoint alpha?

Checkpoint Alpha was a military checkpoint established on the border of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) and the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) during the Cold War. It was located on the Helmstedt-Marienborn border crossing on the transit route between Berlin and West Germany. The checkpoint was in operation from 1945 to 1990, during which time it served as a symbol of the division between East and West Germany. The checkpoint had strict security measures and was manned by both German border guards and Soviet troops. It was also the site of several notable escape attempts and incidents, including the well-known case of the East German soldier who defected to the West in 1963 by running across the border while being shot at by his own comrades. After the reunification of Germany in 1990, the checkpoint was dismantled and the area turned into a museum and memorial to the division and reunification of Germany.