Heinrich-Heine-Straße border crossing

When Germany was divided, the Heinrich-Heine-Straße border crossing was one of the Berlin Wall's largest checkpoints. Where a large part of the goods handling of the divided city used to be processed, you can now be transported back in time. Walk through the street between Moritzplatz/Prinzenstraße and Brückenstraße and follow the History Mile on a historically significant section.

Firmenstraße, Grenzstraße, Verbindungsstraße: eventful history in the heart of Berlin

Heinrich-Heine-Straße has only been named after the great poet from Düsseldorf since 1960. Initially, however, the street operated as Neanderstraße, named after the Berlin manufacturer George Christian Neander. He needed a road on his company premises. The road was thus originally a private road and not accessible to the public. After the end of the Second World War, free movement of people was once again restricted here. It first served as a sector border, but since the foundation of the Federal Republic the road has also been used as its external border. During the Cold War it then became the most important border crossing point for goods and mail between East and West Berlin. Only when the GDR collapsed in 1989 did free passage through the street become possible again without restrictions.

Heinrich-Heine-Strasse today

Today there is little evidence of the former border crossing on Heinrich-Heine-Straße. The street is busy and the many pedestrians use the formerly almost insurmountable border as a matter of course on their daily routes to do errands and visit friends. Maybe you noticed the big car dealership? The entire area belonged to the border crossing for decades and was accordingly secured. However, if you take a closer look around, you will not only see cars in your surroundings, but you will also find a memorial plaque. It commemorates Klaus Brüske and Heinz Schöneberger and their failed escape attempts in 1962 and 1965 respectively. Both were shot by border guards while trying to cross the Heinrich-Heine-Straße border. The Berlin Wall History Mile will also take you to other points of remembrance. Follow the cast-iron panels embedded in the ground along the 30 or so stations of the permanent exhibition in four languages.

Travel to the former border crossing with the Berlin WelcomeCard

With the Berlin WelcomeCard, you can use public transport in Berlin freely, either in the AB fare zone or in the ABC extended area to Potsdam. This way you can reach the Heinrich-Heine-Straße former border crossing and the subway station of the same name in a relaxed and easy way. Incidentally, when Germany was divided this was one of several "ghost train stations" and as such no trains stopped here. In addition, the WelcomeCard offers over 200 discount offers with up to 50% price savings in many of the capital's popular sights.