MPX5136609: Life lines to free West Berlin. Helmstedt a major checkpoint at the border separating The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the Communist East Germany. Here a Soviet officer is walking outside the headquarters of the Western Allies (Great Britain, France and the United States of America) at the border. Under the existing agreements, Allied Military and civilian personnel are dealt with by Soviet officials, but Germans arriving at the control point must deal with officials of the Communist government of East Germany. 1st November 1959 (b/w photo) / Bridgeman Images