Picture taken on October 13, 1976 of the famous Checkpoint Charlie crossing point, marking the border between East (Soviet sector) and West Berlin (American sector). The Berlin wall built by the East German government to seal off East Berlin from the part of the city occupied by the three main western powers (USA, Great Britain and France), and to prevent mass illegal emigration to the West. The wall, built along the border between German Democratic Republic (GDR) and Federal Republic of Germany, was the scene of the shooting of many East Germans who tried to escape from GDR. The two countries remained divided until November 1989 when the wall was unexpectedly opened following increased pressure for political reform in GDR. / AFP / RALPH GATTI (Photo credit should read RALPH GATTI/AFP/Getty Images)
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AFP RALPH GATTI