Kreuzberg

For other uses, see Kreuzberg (disambiguation).

Kreuzberg
Coat of arms
Location of Kreuzberg in Berlin and Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Founded	1920
Area
• Total	10.38 km2 (4.01 sq mi)
Elevation	52 m (171 ft)
Population  (2007-06-30)
• Total	147,803
• Density	14,239/km2 (36,880/sq mi)

Waterside of the Landwehrkanal in Kreuzberg

Kreuzberg, since 2001 part of the combined Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg borough located south of Mitte, is one of the best-known areas of Berlin. Kreuzberg is often described as consisting of two distinctive parts, the SO 36, home to many immigrants and radicals, and the more middle-class SW 61, roughly coterminous with the old postal codes for the two areas in West Berlin. . Kreuzberg has emerged from its history as one of the poorest quarters in Berlin in the late 1970s, where it was an isolated section of West Berlin to one of Berlin's cultural centers in the middle of the reunified city . The borough is known for its very large percentage of immigrants and second-generation immigrants, many of whom are of Turkish ancestry. As of 2006 31.6% of Kreuzberg's inhabitants did not have German citizenship. While Kreuzberg thrives on its diverse cultures and is still an attractive area for many, the district is also characterized by high levels of unemployment and some of the lowest average incomes in Berlin.

Layout

Kreuzberg is bounded by the river Spree in the east. The Landwehrkanal flows through Kreuzberg from east to west. Other characteristics are the old U-Bahn line of the today U1, the Görlitzer Park in SO 36 and the Viktoriapark in SW 61.

Bridges over the Landwehrkanal in Kreuzberg

Berlin U-Bahn station Görlitzer Bahnhof

History

As opposed to many areas of Berlin which were villages before becoming integrated into Berlin, Kreuzberg has a rather short history. It was only formed as such in 1920. Its name, literally cross-hill, refers to its point of highest elevation, 66 m above sea level , a traditional place for weekend trips with small restaurants, which received its name from an 1821 monument by Karl Friedrich Schinkel within the Viktoriapark commemorating the Napoleonic Wars. Except for its northernmost part, today's "Kreuzberg" was a very rural place until well into the 19th century.

This changed when, in the 1860s, industrialisation caused Berlin to grow rapidly. This called for extensive housing – much of which was built exploiting the dire needs of the poor, with widespread land speculation. Many of Kreuzberg's buildings originate from that time . Far into the 20th century, Kreuzberg was the most populous of Berlin's boroughs even in absolute numbers, with more than 400,000 people, although it was and still is geographically the smallest. As a result, with more than 60,000 people per square kilometre, Kreuzberg had the highest population density in Berlin.

In addition to housing, Kreuzberg was also one center of Berlin's industry. The so-called export quarter along Ritter Street consisted of many profitable small businesses, and the "press quarter" along Koch Street was the home of most of Germany's large newspapers as well as the Ullstein, Scherl, and Mosse book publishers.

Both of these industrial quarters were almost entirely destroyed during World War II, with the bombings of a single night from February 3, 1945. In remembrance of the old tradition, the Axel Springer press company erected its German headquarters at Kochstraße again, right next to the Berlin Wall.

After World War II, Kreuzberg's housing rents were regulated by law which made investments unattractive. As a result, housing was of low quality, but cheap, which made the borough a prime target for immigrants coming to Germany (and Berlin). Beginning in the late 1960s, more and more students, artists and of course immigrants used to move to Kreuzberg. "Enclosed" by the Berlin Wall on three sides, especially the SO 36 part of Kreuzberg became famous for its alternative lifestyle and its squatters . Since 1987 there have been violent riots in SO 36 on Labour day.

Oranienplatz on Labour Day

Kottbusser Tor (Berlin U-Bahn station)

Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, Kreuzberg found itself suddenly in the middle of the city again. The initially cheap rents and many 19th century housing made some parts of the borough more attractive as a residential area for a much wider (and richer) variety of people. Today, Kreuzberg has one of the youngest populations of all European city boroughs; statistically, its population has been swapped completely twice in the last two decades.

Streets of Kreuzberg

Berlin's 2001 administrative reform combined Kreuzberg with Friedrichshain to form the new borough of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg. Since the two areas are linked only by one single bridge over the Spree river, the Oberbaumbrücke, this combination seemed awkward to many residents. The two areas not being able to agree on a common location for the future borough's city hall, the present location in Friedrichshain was decided by tossing a five-Mark coin.

Culture

Kreuzberg has historically been home to the Berlin punk movement as well as other alternative subcultures in Germany. There has also been a significant influence stemming from African-American and hip hop culture on Kreuzberg's youth and the area has become a center for graffiti, rap and breakdance within Berlin. Though the majority of Kreuzberg's residents are of German or Turkish descent, some identify more with American or African-American culture. Hip hop was largely introduced to the youth of Kreuzberg by the children of American servicemen who were stationed nearby until the reunification of Germany. Turkish-German filmmaker Neco Celik portrays the American influence over the youth culture in Kreuzberg in his first film, Alltag (Daily Life) notes, "Kreuzberg is a kind of biotope where different nationalities live, but the environment determines their lives, not their nationalities."

External links

• friedrichshain-kreuzberg.de, the website of the combined borough (in German)
• fensterzumhof.eu: Photos of Kreuzberg

Literature and music

Kreuzberg is a song by English Indie Rock band 'Bloc Party' on the album 'A Weekend in the City.'

Kreuzberg is also name dropped in the song "Find the Time" by English singer/songwriter Sam Duckworth's band 'Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly' from the album 'Searching for the Hows and Whys' with the lyrics: "we make lists, we make plans, to write books, to form bands, or to move to kreuzburg and escape into the night. So pack your bags and lets take control, you and me lets go, the next time that you’re lonely,or the next time that you’re free."

References

52°29′N 13°23′E