The Berlin Wall, then and now.

From Der Spiegel's extensive slideshow on the wall in Berlin and in the countryside, isolating East Germany from its neighbours.

The famous Checkpoint Charlie crossing in downtown Berlin, in 1982. Only privileged diplomats, bureaucrats and army personnel could cross here. Photo by Jurgen Ritter. The wall went up in 1961, and through three subsequent upgradings became a DMZ consisting of two walls with what came to be known as a "death strip" between them. An estimated 5,000 East Germans escaped over the wall, and as many as 200 were shot to death by East German guards in making the attempt.

Site of the former Checkpoint Charlie today. The original guard's station has been preserved and relocated to a museum. Photo by Jurgen Ritter. Lines of cobblestone in the pavement in today's Berlin show where the wall stood for 28 years.