As a reminder to all of us that the old cliche of "Freedom is NOT 'free'" is ever so true, we travel to north-central Germany for this week's Highway Feature of the Week. What better way to celebrate the freedoms of the past 223 years that so many of us in the USA now seem to take for granted, and to honor the upcoming 10th anniversary of the collapse of this most oppressive symbol of totalitarianism of all, than to look over the former Communist checkpoint on the main east-west highway across northern Germany.
Originally built by the Nazis during the mid-late 1930s, the A2 is the main Autobahn running westward from Berlin. It connects Berlin to the western German cities of Hannover, Braunschweig, the industrial 'Rhine-Ruhr' metro area (Dortmond, Duisburg, Dusseldorf, Essen, Köln, etc.) and (via the A30) central Holland. After World War II ended, the part of this Autobahn in the 'Soviet' sector became a highly controlled 'conduit' between the 'free' West Germany (the American, UK and French sectors) and the 'free' parts of the old capitol in Berlin. 'West' Berlin was literally a free 'island' surrounded by a repressed communist sea. The A2 became the MAIN surface connection between West Berlin (just over 2 million 'free' population) and the rest of 'free' Germany.
Where this highway crossed the 'Iron Curtain' east-west border, the Communists constructed one of the most repressive border checkpoints anywhere in the world. Travelers between 'West' Germany and Berlin had to undergo a thorough inspection and received a time stamped 'pass' to travel the part of the highway between the 'free' borders. This pass allowed the holder to travel the road. He/she could NOT deviate from the transit route, take any of the intermediate interchange off ramps, linger, take on or discharge any passengers or cargo, etc. At the other end, the traveler was inspected again, this to ensure that they had not delayed their trip for any reason, or taken on or dropped off any passengers or items.
Since the collapse of the communist dictatorship in 1989, the part of the A2 between this former border crossing and Berlin has undergone MAJOR upgrades, work that continues to this day.
It is my belief that this checkpoint is now a German national historical monument.
Poke around and start to think...
A *BIG* 'Thank You' to Brian K. Purcell, San Antonio, TX for this great photologue!!!
 |
|
 |
 |
|
Just follow this sign to make your OWN great signs!!!! |
|
|
This page © Michael G. Koerner |
 |
|---|
