page_title: Berlin border crossings
section_title: Crossings for transit traffic
hierarchical_section_title: Berlin border crossings / Border crossings up to 1990 / West Berlin – GDR / Crossings for transit traffic
caption_attribution_description: For documentary purposes the German Federal Archive often retained the original image captions, which may be erroneous, biased, obsolete or politically extreme. ADN-ZB Reiche-2.4.1972-ill Berlin-Potsdam: Zeitweilige Regelung in Kraft- Die Geste des guten Willens der DDR führte auch am 30. und 31.März.1972 zu einem regen Besucherverkehr an den Grenzübergangsstellen zur DDR und ihrer Hauptstadt.UBz: zügig und korrekt erfolgt an der Grenzübergangsstelle Drewitz bei Potsdam die Abfertigung der Tansitreisenden und der in die Südbezirke der DDR reisenden Westberliner Bürger.(siehe ADN-Meldungen)
context_page_description: The Berlin border crossings were border crossings created as a result of the post-World War II division of Germany. Prior to the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961, travel between the Eastern and Western sectors of Berlin was completely uncontrolled, although restrictions were increasingly introduced by the Soviet and East German authorities at major crossings between the sectors. This free access, especially after the closure of the Inner German border, allowed the Eastern Bloc emigration and defection to occur. East German officials, humiliated by this mass defection, subsequently chose to erect the Berlin Wall in order to prevent residents from leaving East Germany.
  After the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961, border stations between East Berlin and the sectors controlled by those three Western Allies were created. Although there were few crossings at first, more sites were built over the wall's lifespan. Many East Germans crossed the wall illegally by climbing over it, sailing around it, or digging under it, while many others died while attempting to cross.
caption: East German guards checking cars at the Checkpoint Drewitz, the GDR side of Checkpoint Dreilinden/Checkpoint Bravo in 1972
exif: {}