Hi all!
I am currently writing my dissertation. I am writing about Wedding from the 1970's up to present day. My general topic is how it is in Wedding nowadays, and why is it like that. I want to take into account unemployment, immigrants/ guest workers, government reforms ect. I was wondering if anyone has any information regarding any of these issues, or things surrounding this topic. I am wanting to structure it by concentrating on each decade, and discuss how things have changed/developed.
I hope you can help!
Thanks!
Shel
The social structure in Berlin's Wedding district
Info on unemployment, immigrants, reforms, etc.
I am constantly astounded how researching skills among university students these days have descended to the point where they are willing to consider anonymous comments from strangers as valid contributions. Sure as hell glad the Internet wasn't around when I was going to school.
That was slightly harsh!
My only reason for putting this on here, was to see if anyone was around in those days and had any opinions on the subjects, or if anyone knew of any sites where I could find statistics for unemployment and things. I thought the whole point of this was for english speakers who are living in germany... who would have more access to resources than say... me... who is in England. I am researching in many different ways, and I think it is completely out of order for you to put a reply like that when you dont know anything about me! I am merely trying to find different sources of information. If you have nothing helpful to say, why bother? Get a life!
My only reason for putting this on here, was to see if anyone was around in those days and had any opinions on the subjects, or if anyone knew of any sites where I could find statistics for unemployment and things. I thought the whole point of this was for english speakers who are living in germany... who would have more access to resources than say... me... who is in England. I am researching in many different ways, and I think it is completely out of order for you to put a reply like that when you dont know anything about me! I am merely trying to find different sources of information. If you have nothing helpful to say, why bother? Get a life!
Hi Shel,
This guy seems to know quite a bit about Wedding, maybe just contact him: http://wedding.berndschimmler.de/html/wedding_chronik.html
For statistics and stuff you may consider the Berlin/Brandenburg statistics agency: http://www.statistik-berlin-brandenburg.de/ Some info in English available.
Maybe try to contact some of the civil servants or the former mayor of Wedding (before it was merged with Mitte district in 2001). These people tend to have some "institutional" memory and will be glad to talk about the good old times of Western Berlin, reunification, how it all is going downhill now etc.
BTW, why Wedding? It is pretty appalling there, isn't it? All in the name of science?
Cheers
This guy seems to know quite a bit about Wedding, maybe just contact him: http://wedding.berndschimmler.de/html/wedding_chronik.html
For statistics and stuff you may consider the Berlin/Brandenburg statistics agency: http://www.statistik-berlin-brandenburg.de/ Some info in English available.
Maybe try to contact some of the civil servants or the former mayor of Wedding (before it was merged with Mitte district in 2001). These people tend to have some "institutional" memory and will be glad to talk about the good old times of Western Berlin, reunification, how it all is going downhill now etc.
BTW, why Wedding? It is pretty appalling there, isn't it? All in the name of science?
Cheers
If I were your faculty advisor and you came to me with crap like you were trawling internet forums for clues as to how to research, organise, structure and write your dissertation, I'd sit back and probably say the same thing: do some real thinking and research for yourself. That's a lot of what being a student is about. It's not so much the results, it's the process.
Unemployment statistics you can get on google, or do you need to be told that, too?
Good luck anyway.
Unemployment statistics you can get on google, or do you need to be told that, too?
Good luck anyway.
Having done a PhD in history, I have two comments to make concerning your request:
1) I hope no-one here helps you with the information you are asking for. One of the purposes of a dissertation is to learn how to do research. Asking a bunch of strangers on the Internet does not count as research. Even if they answer you, the answers will be worth rubbish.
If you really don't know where to start, look first to see if there are books that discuss the history of Wedding (if there are none, look for histories of Berlin or West Berlin). Read them. Then look at their bibliographies to find their primary sources, then read those. By the time you've done that, you should have a better idea of where you are heading, and be able to figure out how to continue.
If your local library is not good enough, try British Library and/or interlibrary loan.
2) Are you QUITE SURE you want to treat it decade by decade? Why?
I suspect you probably haven't thought this through, but that approach has the major problem of how to tie various themes together. Stop for a moment and think about it:
One section: 1970, immigration, employment, unemployment, etc, etc.
Next section: 1980, immigration, employment, unemployment, etc, etc.
Yet another section: 1990, immigration, employment, unemployment, etc, etc.
You are facing (a) the likelihood of it being boring and repetitive, and (b) you talk about, say, immigration in your 1970s chapter, go on to discuss a bunch of other stuff, all of which ideally will follow on logically from one subject to the next throughout that section, then bingo you reach the 1980s and you have to start from the beginning all over again. Doing this, you will lose all thematic continuity, making it extremely hard to write, and even harder to read.
I would suggest reading (and reading quite a bit, moreover) before commiting yourself to how you want to handle the subject matter.
As you read, you will most assuredly find times and issues that constitute historical turning points. Use these as your guideline on how to divide up our dissertation.
For example (and I am INVENTING these examples merely to provide illustrations),
Say you find that in 1972 the West German government changed its policy concerning Gastarbeiter, allowing Turkish immigrants to come more easily to Germany. So you discuss this, and talk about why the policy was changed, and the effects it had.
Then you discuss why immigrants coming to Germany should settle in Wedding rather than some other place. Discuss the impact it had on Wedding. What was Wedding like before. What impact did this new settlement have?
Then, say, you find that companies X, Y, and Z based in or near Wedding went bankrupt in 1983. Why? What impact did it have on residents of Wedding?
Then, fall of the Berlin Wall. Impact on people in Wedding? Impact on industries in or near Wedding? Did rents change? People start moving in or out? Why?
And so on, and so forth.
You get the idea? Roughly chronological, but hung onto a backbone of historical turning points that are NOT dealt with decade by decade. Far more interesting for the reader (and, dare I day it, for the writer).
1) I hope no-one here helps you with the information you are asking for. One of the purposes of a dissertation is to learn how to do research. Asking a bunch of strangers on the Internet does not count as research. Even if they answer you, the answers will be worth rubbish.
If you really don't know where to start, look first to see if there are books that discuss the history of Wedding (if there are none, look for histories of Berlin or West Berlin). Read them. Then look at their bibliographies to find their primary sources, then read those. By the time you've done that, you should have a better idea of where you are heading, and be able to figure out how to continue.
If your local library is not good enough, try British Library and/or interlibrary loan.
2) Are you QUITE SURE you want to treat it decade by decade? Why?
I suspect you probably haven't thought this through, but that approach has the major problem of how to tie various themes together. Stop for a moment and think about it:
One section: 1970, immigration, employment, unemployment, etc, etc.
Next section: 1980, immigration, employment, unemployment, etc, etc.
Yet another section: 1990, immigration, employment, unemployment, etc, etc.
You are facing (a) the likelihood of it being boring and repetitive, and (b) you talk about, say, immigration in your 1970s chapter, go on to discuss a bunch of other stuff, all of which ideally will follow on logically from one subject to the next throughout that section, then bingo you reach the 1980s and you have to start from the beginning all over again. Doing this, you will lose all thematic continuity, making it extremely hard to write, and even harder to read.
I would suggest reading (and reading quite a bit, moreover) before commiting yourself to how you want to handle the subject matter.
As you read, you will most assuredly find times and issues that constitute historical turning points. Use these as your guideline on how to divide up our dissertation.
For example (and I am INVENTING these examples merely to provide illustrations),
Say you find that in 1972 the West German government changed its policy concerning Gastarbeiter, allowing Turkish immigrants to come more easily to Germany. So you discuss this, and talk about why the policy was changed, and the effects it had.
Then you discuss why immigrants coming to Germany should settle in Wedding rather than some other place. Discuss the impact it had on Wedding. What was Wedding like before. What impact did this new settlement have?
Then, say, you find that companies X, Y, and Z based in or near Wedding went bankrupt in 1983. Why? What impact did it have on residents of Wedding?
Then, fall of the Berlin Wall. Impact on people in Wedding? Impact on industries in or near Wedding? Did rents change? People start moving in or out? Why?
And so on, and so forth.
You get the idea? Roughly chronological, but hung onto a backbone of historical turning points that are NOT dealt with decade by decade. Far more interesting for the reader (and, dare I day it, for the writer).
Hi leisure suit larry,
Thanks for that!
I lived in Berlin during my residence abroad. I was working in Wedding, and it interested me alot. Many of the people that I spoke to always had things to say about the unemployment rates in Germany, which brought up the topic of immigrants alot of the time. I decided that for my dissertation I would like to look more into the unempolyment in germany, but germany as a whole is too large a subject to research. As Wedding has one of the highest unemployment rates, and a high number of guest workers/immigrants living there, I thought it would be a good area to concentrate on.
Anyway, thank you for your imput!
Thanks for that!
I lived in Berlin during my residence abroad. I was working in Wedding, and it interested me alot. Many of the people that I spoke to always had things to say about the unemployment rates in Germany, which brought up the topic of immigrants alot of the time. I decided that for my dissertation I would like to look more into the unempolyment in germany, but germany as a whole is too large a subject to research. As Wedding has one of the highest unemployment rates, and a high number of guest workers/immigrants living there, I thought it would be a good area to concentrate on.
Anyway, thank you for your imput!
Thank you for your help, anzu.
Maybe I didnt make my question clear. All I wanted to know, was if anyone knew of any good german or english websites that had statistics, or other sources of information. I am not an idiot, and I wouldnt take any information from strangers as valid... unless I researched it myself I found the relevant information.
The reason why I wanted to do it decade by decade, was because after discussing it with my lecturer, we decided that it would be a good idea to concern the chapters with each decade, developing arguments to how and why it is the way it is today. I havent decided that the structure will definitely be in that way, but if you have a PHD, you will know that a dissertation is a working progress and it changes all the time as you uncover different information.
I did not want this to be a discussion about how I am doing my work, and I havent told anyone on here my exact plans. I merely wanted to know if anyone who was out there in germany, had ANY sources for the information that I needed. I would OBVIOUSLY research them myself, as I want to acheive the best grade possible!
Maybe I didnt make my question clear. All I wanted to know, was if anyone knew of any good german or english websites that had statistics, or other sources of information. I am not an idiot, and I wouldnt take any information from strangers as valid... unless I researched it myself I found the relevant information.
The reason why I wanted to do it decade by decade, was because after discussing it with my lecturer, we decided that it would be a good idea to concern the chapters with each decade, developing arguments to how and why it is the way it is today. I havent decided that the structure will definitely be in that way, but if you have a PHD, you will know that a dissertation is a working progress and it changes all the time as you uncover different information.
I did not want this to be a discussion about how I am doing my work, and I havent told anyone on here my exact plans. I merely wanted to know if anyone who was out there in germany, had ANY sources for the information that I needed. I would OBVIOUSLY research them myself, as I want to acheive the best grade possible!
QUOTE(silty1 @ Mar 21 2008, 1:09 pm) 
If I were your faculty advisor and you came to me with crap like you were trawling internet forums for clues as to how to research, organise, structure and write your dissertation, I'd sit back and probably say the same thing: do some real thinking and research for yourself. That's a lot of what being a student is about. It's not so much the results, it's the process.
Unemployment statistics you can get on google, or do you need to be told that, too?
Good luck anyway.
Unemployment statistics you can get on google, or do you need to be told that, too?
Good luck anyway.
I personally think that you need to remove your head from where the sun doesnt shine! You cannot find specific statistics unless it is an official website. I have actually found some websites, but I wanted to know if anyone knew of any official german websites... as people on here are in germany! I have spoken to my dissertation tutor and he hasnt said anything as harsh and pathetic as you. Any research is research, and I would NOT take information from strangers as VALID INFORMATION. Do not come on here and talk to me as if I am a child. I dont know where you get off putting things like that to people that you dont know. I have been doing thinking for myself, but this was just another idea to see what other sources were available to me.
You must have little, or no life to think you can get away with talking to people that way you do. I know one thing for certain... I definitely wouldnt take advice from someone who talks to people like that!
Is this a Master's or Ph.D. project?
I know that in the UK, the term "dissertation" is often used in the context of Master's projects.
For statistics, I would check with the Statistisches Bundesamt. http://www.destatis.de
I know that in the UK, the term "dissertation" is often used in the context of Master's projects.
For statistics, I would check with the Statistisches Bundesamt. http://www.destatis.de
Its a dissertation for an undergraduate BA Hons degree.
Thanks!
Thanks!
The best teacher I ever had made it infinitely clear to me that education is about knowing what to do with the information once you have it. The process of obtaining that information is irrelevant as long as you get what you need and know what to do with it. I have since discovered that he knew what the hell he was talking about and you obviously don't.
Haha! Thanks for your comment!!! Im glad that you understood what I was wanting to acheive!
Have a good easter!
Have a good easter!
Hello there,
What an excellent topic - I wish you all the best for your research, look forward to reading what other people can contribute, and will keep an eye out myself for anything that might give you a hand.
I would definitely second Eurovol's statement. Obviously the internet is riddled with naysayers and other grumps, but if one really had a PhD in History one would hope that one's critical and scholarly skills were developed enough to realise that saying 'Look, I've got a PhD' on an anonymous internet website was not the best way to convince your audience.
Anyway, I'll leave our readership with this thought .
Professor Sir Kommentarlos FBA FRSA FRHS etc etc etc
Regius Professor in Twentieth Century History
Institute of Studies
(c/o Daily Mash)
What an excellent topic - I wish you all the best for your research, look forward to reading what other people can contribute, and will keep an eye out myself for anything that might give you a hand.
I would definitely second Eurovol's statement. Obviously the internet is riddled with naysayers and other grumps, but if one really had a PhD in History one would hope that one's critical and scholarly skills were developed enough to realise that saying 'Look, I've got a PhD' on an anonymous internet website was not the best way to convince your audience.
Anyway, I'll leave our readership with this thought .
.Professor Sir Kommentarlos FBA FRSA FRHS etc etc etc
Regius Professor in Twentieth Century History
Institute of Studies
(c/o Daily Mash)
Hi again,
Are newspaper reports in German any use to you (not that I immediately have references to hand)? You mentioned that you have already spent some time working in Wedding so your German is probably better than what is normally expected for an undergraduate long essay / dissertation level. You never know if someone is reading something and thinks of you...
Once the long weekend is over, you might find some other posters who live in the Wedding area that might have a contribution to help out.
Are newspaper reports in German any use to you (not that I immediately have references to hand)? You mentioned that you have already spent some time working in Wedding so your German is probably better than what is normally expected for an undergraduate long essay / dissertation level. You never know if someone is reading something and thinks of you...
Once the long weekend is over, you might find some other posters who live in the Wedding area that might have a contribution to help out.
Hello again!
Newspaper articles would also be a great help! Any information is helpful! Were you thinking of anywhere specific where I could get them?
Thanks!
Newspaper articles would also be a great help! Any information is helpful! Were you thinking of anywhere specific where I could get them?
Thanks!
shellouise22.
Getting info from a forum as to where get info is a great way to do research.
It actually saves you time and money and you will get to the info source much faster.
I am surprised some ppl here do not understand the power of the internet.
Getting info from a forum as to where get info is a great way to do research.
It actually saves you time and money and you will get to the info source much faster.
I am surprised some ppl here do not understand the power of the internet.
QUOTE(shellouise22 @ Mar 21 2008, 11:03 pm)
Hello again!
Newspaper articles would also be a great help! Any information is helpful! Were you thinking of anywhere specific where I could get them?
Thanks!
Newspaper articles would also be a great help! Any information is helpful! Were you thinking of anywhere specific where I could get them?
Thanks!
Der Spiegel is a good place to start. At the moment they have a few things running on various aspects of the Minimum Wage Fiasco.
You asked about that somewhere else?
(And for those who think that 'cutting edge' social science research is still sitting at the dusty microfice reader of your choice for days on end with only an occaisional boiled sweet for distraction need to catch up a bit. A decent undergraduate dissertation from a reputation institution will be expected to have full aknowlegements stating sources used. E.g I would like to thank the kind readers of Toytown for suggesting that Der Spiegel would be an efficient way to get quick and up to date information on the thorny problem of the lack of a minimum wage in Germany. etc.)
how offensive. ask an innocent question only to be attacked by klugscheissers. good luck with your research and i hope you find lots of useful leads on Toytown. greetz from wedding
I'm actually curious about Wedding myself. More because I'm looking for an interesting place to live, and I'm seen everything about it from 'quite nice in areas' to 'Don't touch it with a barge pole.' On the other hand, rents are cheap and it's filled with nifty old buildings. I don't mind poor... I would rather not pay for pretentious, faux trendy.
I wish people had given you more answers and not been such complete wankers! As a writer and professional researcher myself, I think you asked a very intelligent question.
I wish people had given you more answers and not been such complete wankers! As a writer and professional researcher myself, I think you asked a very intelligent question.
Wedding is the unwashed armpit of northern europe. Personally I don't think there could be any worse place to live, anywhere, (and i've been to some nasty places).
Guess I should elaborate. There is an extremely high unemployment rate, with a high rate of associated socio-economic problems: alcoholism, mental illness etc.
To go out socialising you will have to travel into Mitte or Prenzlauerberg. Last time I checked, there was no where to go out in Wedding. It is a classic example of hastily conceived post war town planning, the government needed housing for the population that was growing at an exponential rate at the time, so they went for the cheapest, quickest options. It's hideous.
Guess I should elaborate. There is an extremely high unemployment rate, with a high rate of associated socio-economic problems: alcoholism, mental illness etc.
To go out socialising you will have to travel into Mitte or Prenzlauerberg. Last time I checked, there was no where to go out in Wedding. It is a classic example of hastily conceived post war town planning, the government needed housing for the population that was growing at an exponential rate at the time, so they went for the cheapest, quickest options. It's hideous.
Not really sure if it is relevant, But thought you might find it interesting nevertheless.
A friend of mine and I looked at a place to rent in Wedding that use to be owned by a famous porn star from the 70s. I never found out who or why when they had so much money they chose to live in Wedding.
I found if rather ironic looking through a massive penthouse plopped on top of every day "Joes flats" with a terrace it's own lift own basement swimming pool and three car garage, a fish tank that took up an entire wall and was so big had its own pump house, stuck in the middle of a well relatively poor area incredibly interesting.
The place looked like it had been set up for filming, evidence of old light supports and such everywhere, maybe they were taking advantage of the high unemployment rates or something or maybe nothing of the sort?
Anyway if you decide it's worth looking into I'd love to know what you find out.
A friend of mine and I looked at a place to rent in Wedding that use to be owned by a famous porn star from the 70s. I never found out who or why when they had so much money they chose to live in Wedding.
I found if rather ironic looking through a massive penthouse plopped on top of every day "Joes flats" with a terrace it's own lift own basement swimming pool and three car garage, a fish tank that took up an entire wall and was so big had its own pump house, stuck in the middle of a well relatively poor area incredibly interesting.
The place looked like it had been set up for filming, evidence of old light supports and such everywhere, maybe they were taking advantage of the high unemployment rates or something or maybe nothing of the sort?
Anyway if you decide it's worth looking into I'd love to know what you find out.
QUOTE(FirstCitizen @ Apr 12 2008, 6:47 pm)
Wedding is the unwashed armpit of northern europe. Personally I don't think there could be any worse place to live, anywhere, (and i've been to some nasty places).
Thanks for your help. Keep saying this to everyone you meet, so that the rent will remain low for us porn stars. Your elaboration is well thought out, informative, and detailed. Wedding truly is the nastiest place in all of northern Europe. Who'da thunk?
And your reply was ambiguous and vaguely sarcastic.
No, it was overtly sarcastic, but for you one turn deserves another. You'll get out of it what you put in, just like Wedding, northern Europe's arsehole, right fc? What unsullied and spotless area of Berlin do you live in? I'll bet you're doing a lot to make your neighborhood hip and cool.
Since it is about personal opinions now, I find Wedding a charming meltpot of cultures, a throwback to the bohemian '60s and '70s
@ OP, please contact the Buergeramt. Well you might have some official sterilized versions or worst case no data, but many times they are helpful. I know examples where people have got data/ official opinions from the Buergeramt. Get your Univ or Prof to talk to them. Who know, they may even find your research relevant and good things may come out of it.
Good Luck,
@ OP, please contact the Buergeramt. Well you might have some official sterilized versions or worst case no data, but many times they are helpful. I know examples where people have got data/ official opinions from the Buergeramt. Get your Univ or Prof to talk to them. Who know, they may even find your research relevant and good things may come out of it.
Good Luck,
FirstCitizen - you're wrong. You should read up on the history of Berlin before making uninformed comments about the history of Wedding, which goes back long before the 2nd world war, and is significantly more interesting that you might think. Also, you've obviously not tried hard to find places to go out in Wedding and neighbouring districts such as Moabit - as they are not hard to find.
I've never livedin Wedding, but work close by, and I know people who live in the area. It is not the most exciting area, and does have some problems with druggies etc. - but like all parts of Berlin, its what you make of it. It would not be my first choice of area to live in but there are plenty of people who live happily there.
Colin
I've never livedin Wedding, but work close by, and I know people who live in the area. It is not the most exciting area, and does have some problems with druggies etc. - but like all parts of Berlin, its what you make of it. It would not be my first choice of area to live in but there are plenty of people who live happily there.
Colin
if I had some extra time and could study the social structure+make up of Wedding. I would look at the Afrikanisches Viertel (African Quarter).
QUOTE(krostitzer @ Apr 13 2008, 7:52 pm)
No, it was overtly sarcastic, but for you one turn deserves another.
Yeah great, what the hell are you doing living there anyway? I mean I know there are some awful places in the States, but why would you fly 4000 miles from wherever you're from to come and live in...Wedding of all places. Why don't you go and live somewhere cool like Paris or London?
QUOTE(colinmanning @ Apr 13 2008, 8:43 pm)
FirstCitizen - you're wrong
I know about the history of Berlin, i've lived here for nearly 4 years, so don't patronise me with statements like 'the history is significantly more interesting than you might think'. Just the way you worded that make me want to deliberately not find out more about it. If I had my way most of Berlin would be razed to the ground (with people like you in it) and rebuilt from scratch. Tell me one good exemplary thing about Wedding and i'll consider it, otherwise I say, let it burn.
QUOTE(FirstCitizen @ Apr 12 2008, 6:47 pm)
Wedding is the unwashed armpit of northern europe. Personally I don't think there could be any worse place to live, anywhere, (and i've been to some nasty places).
Guess I should elaborate. There is an extremely high unemployment rate, with a high rate of associated socio-economic problems: alcoholism, mental illness etc.
Guess I should elaborate. There is an extremely high unemployment rate, with a high rate of associated socio-economic problems: alcoholism, mental illness etc.
I don't think that the OP really needs you to elaborate in your generalisations seeing as she is attempting to produce a piece of scholarly work on the subject. And an excellent topic it is at that.
So do you have any primary data that she can manipulate on the subject at hand or are you just here to state the obvious - bits of Wedding (as with other bits of other major cities ) can be a bit grotty
Oh and whether you find the area meets your personal socialising needs is neither here nor there. Mitte and PLBerg may not be other peoples cups of tea either.
Some basic history of Wedding from Wikipedia (for the benefit of FirstCitizen, who wants to burn it down):
And some comments on Wedding today:
QUOTE
In the 12th century, the manor of the nobleman Rudolf de Weddinge was located on the small Panke River in the immediate vicinity of today's Nettelbeckplatz. The farmstead, which burned down more than once, remained abandoned in the forest until the 18th century.
In the mid-18th century, while Gesundbrunnen was being built up as a health resort and spa town, gambling and prostitution moved into Wedding, transforming it into a pleasure district.
The constant migration of country-dwellers into the city at the end of the 19th century converted Wedding into a working-class district. The labourers lived in cramped tenement blocks. After World War I Wedding was known as "Red Wedding" as it was renowned for its militant, largely communist working class; it was the scene of violent protests on May 1, 1929. Because of the politics of the workers in Wedding, it was a target of attacks by the Nazi government in the 1930s.
After World War II, Wedding and Reinickendorf together made up the French sector of Berlin. The north side of Wedding's Bernauer Straße and both northern and southern sidewalks were in the French sector while the buildings along the southern side were in Soviet territory. When the Berlin Wall was being built in August 1961, many who lived in apartments in these buildings frantically jumped from their windows to the sidewalk below, before the buildings could be evacuated and their windows bricked up.
Wedding was the western terminus of one of the first refugee tunnels dug underneath the Berlin Wall. It extended from the basement of an abandoned factory on Schönholzer Straße in the Soviet sector underneath Bernauer Straße to another building in the west. Though marvellously well constructed and its secrecy maintained, the tunnel was plagued by water from leaking pipes, and had to be shut down after only a few days of operation.
A section of the Berlin Wall has been reconstructed near the spot on Bernauer Straße where the tunnel ended. Two sections of wall run parallel to one another down the street with a strip of no man's land in the middle. A nearby museum documents the history of the Wall.
In the mid-18th century, while Gesundbrunnen was being built up as a health resort and spa town, gambling and prostitution moved into Wedding, transforming it into a pleasure district.
The constant migration of country-dwellers into the city at the end of the 19th century converted Wedding into a working-class district. The labourers lived in cramped tenement blocks. After World War I Wedding was known as "Red Wedding" as it was renowned for its militant, largely communist working class; it was the scene of violent protests on May 1, 1929. Because of the politics of the workers in Wedding, it was a target of attacks by the Nazi government in the 1930s.
After World War II, Wedding and Reinickendorf together made up the French sector of Berlin. The north side of Wedding's Bernauer Straße and both northern and southern sidewalks were in the French sector while the buildings along the southern side were in Soviet territory. When the Berlin Wall was being built in August 1961, many who lived in apartments in these buildings frantically jumped from their windows to the sidewalk below, before the buildings could be evacuated and their windows bricked up.
Wedding was the western terminus of one of the first refugee tunnels dug underneath the Berlin Wall. It extended from the basement of an abandoned factory on Schönholzer Straße in the Soviet sector underneath Bernauer Straße to another building in the west. Though marvellously well constructed and its secrecy maintained, the tunnel was plagued by water from leaking pipes, and had to be shut down after only a few days of operation.
A section of the Berlin Wall has been reconstructed near the spot on Bernauer Straße where the tunnel ended. Two sections of wall run parallel to one another down the street with a strip of no man's land in the middle. A nearby museum documents the history of the Wall.
And some comments on Wedding today:
QUOTE
Today, Wedding is one of the poorest areas of Berlin, with a high unemployment rate of almost 26%. Almost 17% of the population live on social welfare; 27% live below the poverty line.[1] Foreigners make up almost 30% of the population.[2] Low rents accompany the poverty in Wedding so, like many inexpensive areas in large cities, it is home to a vibrant artists' community. Many galleries have been founded by artists to provide a space for themselves and their peers to show their work.
More than other 19th century working class districts, the original character of Wedding has been preserved. It is said to be a place to find the Schnauze mit Herz (big mouth and big heart) of the working class. However, the spirit is not exclusively German. The multicultural atmosphere is visible in the bilingual shop signs (German and Turkish, or German and Arabic). The buildings of Wedding are relics of European post-war Modernism. Many are monolithic housing blocks. Some old buildings survived the war and urban renewal and still have coal fired heating. Wedding did not experience the boom and gentrification of the '90s in Berlin.
Two green oases mark the borders of the old "red" district. The first is the vast Humboldthain park in the East and the idyllic Plötzensee lake in the Southwest. Volkspark Humboldthain has a rise in the south and one in the north with a sort of valley in between. The main activity is walking. There are picnic grounds and a big outdoor public swimming pool. There are also the remains of a large World War II flak tower on the northern edge. After unsuccessful attempts to demolish the structure, the city decided to turn it into a lookout point. It provides an impressive view, especially to the north. Local technical mountain climbers have converted the northern face of the tower to a practice climbing wall. Plötzensee is a popular summer hang-out offering sandy beaches and long lawns. A section of the beach is reserved for nudists.
More than other 19th century working class districts, the original character of Wedding has been preserved. It is said to be a place to find the Schnauze mit Herz (big mouth and big heart) of the working class. However, the spirit is not exclusively German. The multicultural atmosphere is visible in the bilingual shop signs (German and Turkish, or German and Arabic). The buildings of Wedding are relics of European post-war Modernism. Many are monolithic housing blocks. Some old buildings survived the war and urban renewal and still have coal fired heating. Wedding did not experience the boom and gentrification of the '90s in Berlin.
Two green oases mark the borders of the old "red" district. The first is the vast Humboldthain park in the East and the idyllic Plötzensee lake in the Southwest. Volkspark Humboldthain has a rise in the south and one in the north with a sort of valley in between. The main activity is walking. There are picnic grounds and a big outdoor public swimming pool. There are also the remains of a large World War II flak tower on the northern edge. After unsuccessful attempts to demolish the structure, the city decided to turn it into a lookout point. It provides an impressive view, especially to the north. Local technical mountain climbers have converted the northern face of the tower to a practice climbing wall. Plötzensee is a popular summer hang-out offering sandy beaches and long lawns. A section of the beach is reserved for nudists.
Hey folks, how about this for some quotes from FirstCitizen on another thread today - this is the guy who told us that he recommends razing Berlin to the ground - wow what a consistent guy! Check out his post history - can't help but make you laugh!
QUOTE(FirstCitizen @ Apr 15 2008, 00:00 pm)
Move south? Nah, Berlin is the only place I could live. The rest of the country's just a bland pile of sameness.
QUOTE(FirstCitizen @ Apr 15 2008, 00:00 pm)
That's not what I said you enormous twat, I said I wouldn't want to live anywhere other than Berlin, I understand that there are other places in Germany besides Berlin, but they are such dull featureless places (thanks to our boys in the RAF), that there is no reason as far as I can see, for people to want to live there.
QUOTE(FirstCitizen @ Apr 15 2008, 00:00 pm)
If there was an equal balance of TT members from Munich and Berlin, Berlin would easily win. The rest of Germany's a toilet. (Apart from Munich, which is ok).
That statement was made about Wedding, not the entire city of Berlin.
Bland piles of sameness indeed.
Well, I would have never thought that Nettelbeck Platz was the seat of a manor. Now there's just a fountain with some people dancing on a volcano.
There's also an interesting, big rock with an inscription on it, by the Panke, commemorating a "Red Wedding" riot between the communists and the nazis. A lot of history went down here.
Well, I would have never thought that Nettelbeck Platz was the seat of a manor. Now there's just a fountain with some people dancing on a volcano.
There's also an interesting, big rock with an inscription on it, by the Panke, commemorating a "Red Wedding" riot between the communists and the nazis. A lot of history went down here.
QUOTE(FirstCitizen @ Apr 14 2008, 2:49 am)
I know about the history of Berlin, i've lived here for nearly 4 years, so don't patronise me with statements like 'the history is significantly more interesting than you might think'. Just the way you worded that make me want to deliberately not find out more about it. If I had my way most of Berlin would be razed to the ground (with people like you in it) and rebuilt from scratch. Tell me one good exemplary thing about Wedding and i'll consider it, otherwise I say, let it burn.
Hi xman99 - just for reference, here is the post where FirstCitizen indicates that he thinks most of Berlin should be razed to the ground - so his problem is not just with Wedding as you can see.
Colin
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