I'm a Profiteer in Cold War Germany

Chapter 295: Chapter 78: Preferential Treatment at Checkpoint Charlie

September 10, 1971, Checkpoint Charlie.

A black sedan slowly approached the checkpoint.

Werner sat in the passenger seat while Keller drove. The back seat and trunk were filled with Zeiss cameras, binoculars, and surveying instruments, worth at least 150,000 West German Marks.

A long line had formed at the checkpoint.

Most were residents of West Berlin, holding passes to visit relatives in East Berlin.

Ever since the first Pass Agreement was signed at the end of 1963, West Berliners could apply to enter East Berlin to visit relatives at specific times, such as Christmas and Easter.

However, applications were required in advance for each visit, and they could only stay for a few hours before having to leave.

Werner watched the people in line. They were mostly elderly, clutching bags of all sizes, their faces a mixture of anticipation and anxiety. Border Guard soldiers checked each pass, rummaged through luggage, and questioned the purpose of their visit. The entire process was slow and oppressive.

An old woman’s luggage was opened, and a soldier pulled out a few bars of chocolate and a bag of coffee.

"These are for my family," the old woman said nervously.

"Bringing in this much contraband?" the soldier said, his face stern. "Coffee and chocolate are both controlled goods. You can’t just bring them in."

"Please, these are for my grandson..." the old woman pleaded.

The soldier hesitated for a moment before finally waving his hand. "Fine, I’ll let you go this time. Be more careful next time."

The old woman thanked him profusely, grabbed her luggage, and hurried away.

Werner watched this play out, a mix of feelings stirring within him.

This was daily life on either side of the Berlin Wall—on one side, relatives longing for reunion; on the other, cold rules and controls.

And yet his car, loaded with over a hundred thousand Marks’ worth of contraband, was about to cruise right through.

"Take the officials’ lane," Werner told Keller.

Keller nodded and drove into the "officials’ lane."

This lane was reserved for government officials, diplomatic personnel, and special organizations like Koko. There was no waiting in line, and inspections were comparatively lax.

A young Border Guard walked over and knocked on the car window.

Keller rolled down the window and handed over his documents.

The guard glanced at the documents, then saw Werner in the passenger seat, and his whole demeanor changed. "Comrade Betelich! Please wait a moment, I’ll go get the captain."

A moment later, the checkpoint captain hurried over.

He was a man in his forties, an ingratiating smile plastered on his face.

"Deputy Director Betelich!" The captain snapped to attention and saluted. "Welcome, sir! I’m Fritz Mueller, the checkpoint captain."

Werner rolled down his window and nodded. "Comrade Mueller."

"Are you heading to West Berlin on business today?" Mueller leaned toward the car window and lowered his voice. "Is there anything I can arrange for you?"

"That won’t be necessary," Werner said. "Just follow protocol and do the inspection."

"An inspection? There’s no need!" Mueller said, waving his hands frantically. "You have Comrade Anger’s personal trust. How could we dare inspect your vehicle?" He turned and shouted to the guard, "Raise the barrier! Let them pass!"

"Are you sure no inspection is needed?" Werner asked.

"Absolutely not!" Mueller saluted again. "Deputy Director Betelich, we all know you are serving the state. We have complete trust in your vehicle." He glanced at Keller in the driver’s seat. "And this comrade, he’s with you?"

"Yes," Werner said. "He’s my driver. He’ll be passing through this checkpoint frequently from now on."

"Understood!" Mueller immediately nodded to Keller. "Comrade, from now on, just give us Deputy Director Betelich’s name when you drive through. We’ll wave you right past, no inspection needed."

Keller glanced at Werner, who gave a slight nod.

"Thank you," Keller said.

"Not at all!" Mueller straightened up and saluted again. "Deputy Director Betelich, have a safe journey!"

The barrier lifted. Keller stepped on the accelerator, and the car slowly drove past the checkpoint. In the rearview mirror, Mueller was still standing there, a broad smile on his face.

After they had driven some distance, Keller couldn’t help but laugh.

"Boss, that was way too easy. They didn’t even take a peek."

"That’s the perk of having status," Werner said, lighting a cigarette. "From now on, when you come through on your own, just give them my name. They won’t dare to search the car."

"Understood," Keller said. "With you covering for us, transporting the goods will be a lot easier from now on."

The car drove into West Berlin.

Keller drove to Reynard’s warehouse, where Reynard was already waiting at the entrance.

"The goods?" Reynard asked.

Keller opened the trunk. Reynard’s eyes lit up when he saw the Zeiss equipment.

"Good stuff!" Reynard picked up a camera, examining it closely. "This is the latest Zeiss Contarex. It goes for three thousand Marks on the West German market. How many do you have?"

"Fifty cameras, thirty pairs of binoculars, and twenty surveying instruments," Werner said.

Reynard did a quick calculation in his head. "I can sell this whole shipment for 250,000 Marks."

"It’s yours for two hundred thousand," Werner said. "The other fifty thousand is your cut."

"Deal!" Reynard laughed. "Werner, how did you manage to open up this supply line? Since when did those guys at Checkpoint Charlie get so accommodating?"

"It’s not that they’re accommodating; the situation has changed," Werner said, flicking the ash from his cigarette. "The Four Power Agreement is about to be signed, so travel between East and West Berlin will get easier. We can use this route regularly from now on."

"In that case, I’d better get more warehouse space," Reynard said.

Werner turned to Keller. "From now on, you’ll make at least two trips a week. I’ll arrange the goods; you’re just responsible for transport. Remember, give them my name every time. The checkpoint won’t give you any trouble."

"Got it, boss," Keller nodded.

After finishing with the cargo, Werner went alone to a café in West Berlin.

A moment later, the door of the café swung open.

A middle-aged man in a suit walked in and smiled upon seeing Werner.

"Werner, long time no see."

Werner looked at the newcomer and nodded. "Werner. You contacted me saying you had something to discuss?"

"I hear you’ve had a major power boost recently. I came specifically to congratulate you," Werner said. "Anger really trusts you, doesn’t he?"

"It’s decent," Werner said.

Werner sat down opposite him, lowering his voice. "Werner, we want to talk. With the Four Power Agreement about to be signed, we need more intelligence on East German policy."

Werner exhaled a cloud of smoke. "And the price?"

"The usual arrangement," Werner said.

"Agreed," Werner said. "Wire it to my Swiss account."

"No problem."

"To a pleasant partnership, then," Werner said, extending his hand.

Werner took his hand. "A pleasant partnership."

**************

That evening, Werner returned to East Berlin.

He didn’t go straight home, but to the small villa in the suburbs—his and Anna’s secret rendezvous point.

Inside the villa, the fireplace was already lit, casting dancing shadows on the walls.

Anna was sitting on the sofa in a dark sweater, her hair pinned up loosely at the back of her head, a glass of red wine in her hand.

When she saw Werner come in, she set down her glass, stood, and walked over to him.

"You’re back?" Anna’s voice was soft.

"Mm-hm." Werner took off his overcoat and hung it on the rack by the door.

Anna stepped in front of him and reached up to undo his tie. "Did everything go smoothly?"

"Very smoothly." Werner looked down at her. "The goods were delivered to West Berlin without a single Mark lost."

"I heard when you went through the checkpoint today, Mueller just waved you through," Anna said, pulling off his tie and tossing it on the sofa. "You carry a lot of weight these days."

"The situation has changed," Werner said. "Anger took power, and I picked the winning side. These people know how to act accordingly."

Just as Anna was about to speak, Werner suddenly bent down and swept her up into his arms.

"Werner—!" Anna cried out in surprise, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck.

"Let’s not talk about that tonight." Werner looked down at her, his gaze tender. "Tonight is just for us."

He carried her and strode toward the bedroom.

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