Tony Marino entered the border crossing at the junction of Friedrichstrasse with Zimmerstrasse and Mauerstrasse. Known as Checkpoint Charlie, it was used by foreigners to access East Berlin. Marino passed through a gate on the western side, an American soldier giving his documents a cursory glance, crossed a strip of land between posts, and reported to a white shanty where the East German guards were located. He entered the building, found two soldiers sitting behind a counter, and presented his papers.
Friedrichstrasse ZimmerstrasseMauerstrasse“Empty your pockets,” the first guard said as the second scanned his documents.
Marino removed his wallet, a set of keys, some money, and a new toothbrush from his pockets and put everything on the counter, watching as the guard eyed the toothbrus
