Scheunenviertel

As a barn area in present-day Berlin district of Mitte, close to the historical center lying area was designated north of the city wall between the Hackescher Markt and Rosa - Luxembourg -Platz today earlier.

Today, often the entire region between Friedrichstrasse and the Karl- Liebknecht-Straße is so designated, which is in the south through the city train (about the history of the old city walls) and the Spree, and to the north by the line road or Torstraße limited. In fact, the barn area only covers the east Rosenthalerstraße lying part of the suburb of Spandau. In the north to Prenzlauer Berg belonging to those regions close to around the Teutoburg and Kollwitzplatz.

History

Prussia

In 1670, the Great Elector Friedrich Wilhelm had fire safety reasons the maintenance of barns within the city limits prohibited, about 1672, he ordered the construction of 27 barns in the immediate vicinity of the former city wall. So today's barn area was created. Today's Alexanderplatz was at that time a cattle market, for its operation large amounts of hay and straw were needed. Since the fire safety regulations forbade the storage of flammable materials such within the city walls, the barns were built outside the wall. North of the present Dircksenstraße that marks the approximate course in front of the baroque city 's fortifications, extensive, agricultural areas were located. The barn area also served as a home for farm workers employed there. After the demolition of the city walls, the area was built, but retained its old name in the vernacular.

1737 Frederick William I ordered all Jews in Berlin who had no house to move into the barn area. This law and the rules that Jews were allowed to enter the city only by the two northern gates, meant that a quarter later, that place with strong Jewish cultural influences. In addition to the synagogue Heidereutergasse the Jewish Cemetery in Berlin -Mitte and the Jewish Cemetery Beautifully Allee close to the barn area emerged.

For many East European Jewish immigrants, it was obvious in view of these conditions, here also to settle when they came to Berlin from the mid-19th century. This quickly led to a rapidly growing number of residents in this area. In a confined space, the families had to share her room in shifts with sleeping boy. A typical source of income was in the second half of the 19th century, the emerging cigarette manufacturing with all family members.

Period of industrialization

The process of industrialization has left serious traces in the barn area. After the founding of the German Empire in 1871, Berlin became the largest industrial city in Europe. The population density increased rapidly within a few years, the housing needs of immigrating workers was only belatedly and inadequately mitigated by the construction of tenements in the newly created districts. In the small-scale buildings of the district prevailed barn full of urge tightness. Many newcomers found their first abode here. The scarce beds in the sublet apartments were often divided analogous to the layers in the nearby Borsig works. Who slept neither worked, lived in the streets or spent the little free time in one of the many pubs of the area (for example, in the terrace around the Mulackstraße so-called " Mulackei " or " Mulackritze ").

Because of the catastrophic physical and social situation was decided by the Berlin municipal authorities, to completely transform the district from 1906/1907. Goods until then four of the original eight barn alleys exist, the road network was redesigned around the Rosa Luxembourg Platz after the demolition of many buildings:

• First Scheunengasse - overbuilt today
• Second Scheunengasse - today Rosa Luxembourg Street
• Third Scheunengasse - today Zolastraße
• Fourth Scheunengasse - today Weydingerstraße
• Small Scheunengasse - overbuilt today

Because of the First World War, the modernization of the entire district, but has been aborted so that in the western area the old building is still there, while in place modern buildings dominate from the first decades of the 20th century.

Barn area pogrom in 1923

In the early years of the Weimar Republic, the barn area in the context of hyperinflation 1922/1923 the target of anti-Semitic pogroms was. Due to a published on November 23, 1923 newspaper report, after which the Bakers decided to raise the price of bread by many times, unemployed, thousands gathered in front of the job center in Gormannstraße to auszufassen appropriate support funds. The amount was reported but after a short time, it would be no more money available for payout. Then came agitators approached the angry crowd that spread, " Galician " (ie Eastern Jews ) from the barn area had acquired the money available to schedule. Soon began in the barn area with its backyards and hawkers riots, which were directed against all individuals and businesses, the amount of "Jewish" appeared. Here, people were dragged out from their homes and beaten and devastated business facilities. In contemporary newspapers such as the Vossische newspaper was to read that the police had strikingly retained in the riots, where it would have been easy for her to command the crowd stop.

The confusion of names

Today, the barn area is often equated with the Spandau suburb. This has a historical background: In the early 20th century, the barn area had become a social focal point. The quarter was marked by poverty, prostitution, petty crime, and had at the Berlin population a corresponding reputation. In the barn area in 1891 was also the first ring club, a criminal organization, was formed. In the west part of the adjacent suburb of Spandau contrast, a well - bourgeois, Jewish embossed milieu had established. Here also the Reformed Jewish community with the New Synagogue ( Oranienburger Straße) was an important center. To denigrate the residents in the western suburb of Spandau Jews, the Nazis expanded the discredited names barn area to the entire Spandau suburb of so falsely about on Oranienburger Straße with the New Synagogue.

Today, the term barn area is no longer connected to the formerly negative meaning, but is rather for the here established after 1990 " trendy district ". Around the New Schönhauser street designer fashion is sold. But the close to Hackescher Markt, Oranienburger Straße and the avenue of chestnut trees make the area attractive.