Neukölln

{{stack|File:Richardplatz1.JPG}}

The Berlin district of Neukölln has a long and varied history that reflects the city's changing political and cultural landscape.

Located in the south of the city, Neukölln was originally a small village on the outskirts of Berlin. Neukölln's independence ended on 1 October 1920 when it was incorporated into Berlin.{{cite web|url=https://unvollendete-metropole.de/en/1920-a-crisis-year/|title=1920: A Crisis Year|publisher=Unvollendete Metropole|language=English|accessdate=7 September 2021}} During the German revolution it was the centre of a soldier and worker's council which controlled all local government departments, abolished the municipal authorities, took over the banks and declared housing to be communal property.{{cite book |last=Gluckstein |first=Donny |date=1985 |title=Western soviets |publisher=Bookmarks Publishing Co-operative |page=133}}

In September 1929, Goebbels led his men into Neukölln, a KPD stronghold, and the two warring parties exchanged pistol and revolver fire. During World War II, Neukölln was the location of a subcamp of the Sachsenhausen concentration camp for Jewish and Romani women.{{cite book|last=Megargee|first=Geoffrey P.|year=2009|title=The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos 1933–1945. Volume I|publisher=Indiana University Press, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum|page=1279|isbn=978-0-253-35328-3}}

After World War II, Neukölln underwent significant transformation as a result of the city's division by the Berlin Wall. The neighborhood was located in West Berlin and became a center of industry and commerce, with many factories and warehouses.

From 1966 to 1975 the Gropiusstadt was built, a "Trabantenstadt" or city-within-a-city housing estate, designed by architect Walter Gropius. In the 1980s and 1990s, Neukölln underwent a process of gentrification, with many artists, students, and young professionals moving into the area. In recent years, Neukölln has become known for its diverse and vibrant cultural scene, with a mix of traditional and alternative businesses and a thriving arts and music scene.

Today, Neukölln is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, with a diverse array of restaurants, cafes, and shops, as well as a number of cultural attractions and events. Despite its gentrification, Neukölln remains a working-class neighborhood with a diverse and multicultural population.

{{multiple image|total_width=400

| image1 = Berlin Hufeisensiedlung UAV 04-2017.jpg|caption1=Hufeisensiedlung, 2017

| image2 = IBritzer Garten denis apel.JPG|caption2=Britzer Garten in Neukölln's South

}}

Neukölln is subdivided into five localities:

Subdivisions of Neukölln

File:S-Bahn U-Bahn Berlin Neukölln.JPG]]

File:Berlin-Neukölln-district court.JPG U-Bahn station]]

File:Berlin Neukoelln Hermannplatz asv2021-03 img1.jpg

Neukölln is served by three operational sections of urban rail.

U-Bahn:

• U7: Rathaus Spandau ↔ Rudow (running northwest–southeast)
• U8: Wittenau ↔ Hermannstraße (running north–south)

Part of each of the following S-Bahn routes share an east–west-running section of Ringbahn track through Neukölln:

• S41[http://www.s-bahn-berlin.de/fahrplanundnetz/linie/S41/5 S41 "Bahnhofs- und Linieninformationssystem" s-bahn-berlin.de accessed 19 March 2018]/S42:[http://www.s-bahn-berlin.de/fahrplanundnetz/linie/S42/6 S42 "Bahnhofs- und Linieninformationssystem" s-bahn-berlin.de accessed 19 March 2018] Südkreuz → Gesundbrunnen → Südkreuz (clockwise ↔ anti clockwise circular)
• S45:[http://www.s-bahn-berlin.de/fahrplanundnetz/linie/S45/17 S45 "Bahnhofs- und Linieninformationssystem" s-bahn-berlin.de accessed 91 march 2018] Südkreuz ↔ Berlin Schönefeld Flughafen (only from Monday till Friday). An extension of the S45 is projected to run beyond the current terminus at Schönefeld Airport to the under construction Berlin Brandenburg Airport.[http://www.travelweekly.com/Europe-Travel/Insights/2020-vision-for-Berlins-long-overdue-Brandenburg-Airport "2020 vision for Berlin's long-overdue Brandenburg Airport" Travel weekly, 9 January 2018]
• S46:[http://www.s-bahn-berlin.de/fahrplanundnetz/linie/S46/7 S45 "Bahnhofs- und Linieninformationssystem" s-bahn-berlin.de accessed 19 March 2018] Westend ↔ Königs Wusterhausen
• S47:[http://www.s-bahn-berlin.de/fahrplanundnetz/linie/S47/9 S47 "Bahnhofs- und Linieninformationssystem" s-bahn-berlin.de accessed 19 March 2018] Spindlersfeld ↔ Hermannstraße

Among the numerous rail stations in Neukölln three act as interchanges:

• Hermannplatz - U7 / U8
• Hermannstraße - U8 / S-Bahn
• Berlin-Neukölln - U7 / S-bahn

As of 2010, the borough had a population of 310,283, of whom 121,000 (38.9%) were of non-German ethnicity. The percentage is significantly higher in the locality of the same name, Neukölln.{{Cite web|url=http://www.statistik-berlin-brandenburg.de/Publikationen/Stat_Berichte/2011/SB_A1-5_hj02-10_BE.pdf|title = Seite wird geladen}} The borough is known for its large Turkish, Arab and Kurdish communities, which together make up roughly 18% of the borough's population. Recently,{{when|date=November 2017}} there has been an influx of Romani people and Sub-Saharan Africans.{{Cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/die-welt/politik/article9920445/Die-Roma-von-Berlin-Neukoelln.html|title = Die Roma von Berlin-Neukölln|newspaper = Die Welt|date = 28 September 2010|last1 = Peters|first1 = Freia}}

A trend is the rapid gentrification of certain neighbourhoods within the borough. There has been an influx of students, creatives and other young professionals of mostly Western origin avoiding higher rents which are charged in other parts of Berlin. This has caused a knock-on effect, with rents rising in some parts of Neukölln.{{Cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/neukoelln-nasties-foreigners-feel-accused-in-berlin-gentrification-row-a-750297.html|title = Neukölln Nasties: Foreigners Feel Accused in Berlin Gentrification Row|newspaper = Der Spiegel|date = 11 March 2011|last1 = Mendoza|first1 = Moises}} Northern Neukölln, just to the south of the Kreuzberg area, has become informally referred to as "Kreuzkölln" as the area becomes increasingly fashionable.[https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/namen-fuer-berliner-kieze-sagt-endlich-kreuzkoelln/13422316.html "Sagt endlich Kreuzkölln!" 12 April 2016 Der Tagesspiegel]

The governing body of Neukölln is the district council (Bezirksverordnetenversammlung). It has responsibility for passing laws and electing the city government, including the mayor. The most recent district council election was held on 26 September 2021, and the results were as follows:

{{election table}}

! colspan=2| Party

! Lead candidate

! Votes

! %

! +/-

! Seats

! +/-

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}|

| align=left| Social Democratic Party (SPD)

| align=left| Martin Hikel

| 41,104

| 28.7

| {{decrease}} 1.7

| 18

| {{decrease}} 1

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}|

| align=left| Alliance 90/The Greens (Grüne)

| align=left| Susann Worschech

| 25,238

| 17.6

| {{increase}} 2.7

| 11

| {{increase}} 2

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}|

| align=left| Christian Democratic Union (CDU)

| align=left| Falko Liecke

| 24,191

| 16.9

| {{increase}} 0.6

| 10

| ±0

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|The Left (Germany)}}|

| align=left| The Left (LINKE)

| align=left| Sarah Nagel

| 21,525

| 15.0

| {{increase}} 2.8

| 9

| {{increase}} 2

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Alternative for Germany}}|

| align=left| Alternative for Germany (AfD)

| align=left| Julian Potthast

| 10,125

| 7.1

| {{decrease}} 5.7

| 4

| {{decrease}} 4

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}|

| align=left| Free Democratic Party (FDP)

| align=left| Roland Leppek

| 6,971

| 4.9

| {{increase}} 0.6

| 3

| {{increase}} 1

|-

| colspan=8 bgcolor=lightgrey|

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Human Environment Animal Protection}}|

| align=left| Tierschutzpartei

| align=left|

| 4,101

| 2.9

| {{increase}} 0.7

| 0

| ±0

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Die PARTEI}}|

| align=left| Die PARTEI

| align=left|

| 2,909

| 2.0

| {{decrease}} 0.4

| 0

| ±0

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Grassroots Democratic Party of Germany}}|

| align=left| dieBasis

| align=left|

| 1,787

| 1.2

| New

| 0

| New

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Klimaliste}}|

| align=left| Klimaliste

| align=left|

| 1,451

| 1.0

| New

| 0

| New

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Volt Germany}}|

| align=left| Volt Germany

| align=left|

| 1,431

| 1.0

| New

| 0

| New

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Free Voters}}|

| align=left| Free Voters

| align=left|

| 1,061

| 0.7

| New

| 0

| New

|-

|

| align=left| We are Berlin

| align=left|

| 843

| 0.6

| New

| 0

| New

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Ecological Democratic Party}}|

| align=left| Ecological Democratic Party

| align=left|

| 235

| 0.2

| New

| 0

| New

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Liberal Conservative Reformers}}|

| align=left| Liberal Conservative Reformers

| align=left|

| 192

| 0.1

| New

| 0

| New

|-

! colspan=3| Valid votes

! 143,164

! 98.9

!

!

!

|-

! colspan=3| Invalid votes

! 1,655

! 1.1

!

!

!

|-

! colspan=3| Total

! 144,819

! 100.0

!

! 55

! ±0

|-

! colspan=3| Electorate/voter turnout

! 225,767

! 64.1

! {{increase}} 6.5

!

!

|-

| colspan=8| Source: [https://www.wahlen-berlin.de/wahlen/BE2021/AFSPRAES/bvv/ergebnisse_bezirk_08.html Elections Berlin]

|}

The district mayor (Bezirksbürgermeister) is elected by the Bezirksverordnetenversammlung, and positions in the district government (Bezirksamt) are apportioned based on party strength. Martin Hikel of the SPD was elected mayor on 21 March 2018. Since the 2021 municipal elections, the composition of the district government is as follows:

File:Leo Arons.jpg

File:Gedenktafel Ursula Goetze (1987).jpg

File:2007-05-24 Alexander Hacke live.jpg

• Edgar Froese (1944–2015), musician, founder of the electronic music group Tangerine Dream
• Leo Arons (1860–1919), physicist, social democrat and supporter of the trade union movement
• Sebastian Blomberg (born 1972), actor
• Horst Buchholz (1933–2003), actor
• Heinz Buschkowsky (born 1948), politician (SPD), former district mayor of Neukölln
• Christiane F. (born 1962), author of the book Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo
• Ursula Goetze, anti-Nazi activist (1916–1943)
• Alexander Hacke, musician, born 1965 in Neukölln
• Kirsten Heisig (1961–2010), juvenile magistrate in Neukölln, created the Neuköllner Modell, applying rapid intervention procedures to deal with juvenile offenders before they embarked on a criminal lifestyle
• Kurt Krömer (born 1974), presenter, actor and entertainer
• Jutta Limbach (1934–2016), legal academic
• Will Meisel (1897–1967), composer and publisher
• Inge Meysel (1910–2004), actress
• Gunnar Möller (1928–2017), actor
• Mady Rahl (1915–2009), actress
• Antonio Rüdiger (born 1993), footballer{{Cite web|url=https://medium.com/forza-roma/antonio-rudiger-this-is-the-story-of-my-life-a733366bfab3|title=Antonio Rudiger: This is the story of my life|last=Roma|first=A. S.|date=2016-06-09|website=forza roma|access-date=2017-07-17}}
• Werner Seelenbinder (1904–1944), wrestler, politician (KPD) and resistance fighter
• Katharina Szelinski-Singer (1918–2010), sculptor
• Elsa Thiemann (1910–1981), Bauhaus educated photographer, who took many photographs of Neukölln where she lived
• Lotte Ulbricht (1903–2002), wife of East German leader Walter Ulbricht
• Emil Wutzky (1871–1963), trade unionist and local politician (SPD)
• Engelbert Zaschka (1895–1955), inventor and helicopter pioneer
• Alice Phoebe Lou (born 1993), a South African singer-songwriter

{{more citations needed section|date=June 2014}}

• "Neuköln" (deliberately spelt with one 'l') is an instrumental piece by David Bowie, the ninth track on his 1977 album "Heroes".
• The last track of Miss Kittin's first solo album I Com is called "Neukölln 2".
• The German film Knallhart is set in the northern part of Neukölln.
• The German documentary Neukölln Unlimited tells the story of three Lebanese teenagers based in Neukölln, who fight their deportation out of Germany.
• Electronic music producer Kobosil is a native of the city. With a Bachelor of Arts in audio production, he has released music on the Ostgut Ton and MDT labels.{{cite web|title=Kobosil|url=http://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/kobosil/biography|website=Resident Advisor|publisher=Resident Advisor Ltd|access-date=4 June 2014|year=2014}}
• The series 4 Blocks is set in Neukölln and Kreuzberg.
• The sixth leg of The Amazing Race 32 had its Pit Stop in Neukölln.{{cite web|url=https://tvgrapevine.com/2020/11/the-amazing-race-recap-for-11-18-2020-double-legs/|title=The Amazing Race Recap for 11/18/2020: Double Legs|work=TV Grapevive|first=Sammi|last=Turano|date=November 18, 2020|access-date=November 19, 2020}}

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany}}

Neukölln is twinned with:{{cite web |title=Neuköllner Städtepartnerschaften|url=https://www.berlin.de/ba-neukoelln/politik-und-verwaltung/beauftragte/partnerstaedte/|website=berlin.de|date=10 November 2020|publisher=Berlin|language=de|access-date=2021-02-08}}

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{flagicon|BEL}} Anderlecht, Belgium (1955)
• {{flagicon|ISR}} Bat Yam, Israel (1978)
• {{flagicon|FRA}} Boulogne-Billancourt, France (1955)
• {{flagicon|TUR}} Çiğli (İzmir), Turkey (2005)
• {{flagicon|GER}} Cologne, Germany (1967)
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Hammersmith and Fulham (London), England, United Kingdom (1955)
• {{flagicon|GER}} Leonberg, Germany (1970)
• {{flagicon|ITA}} Marino, Italy (1980)
• {{flagicon|RUS}} Pavlovsk (Saint Petersburg), Russia (1991)
• {{flagicon|CZE}} Prague 5 (Prague), Czech Republic (2005)
• {{flagicon|RUS}} Pushkin (Saint Petersburg), Russia (1991)
• {{flagicon|CZE}} Ústí nad Orlicí, Czech Republic (1989)
• {{flagicon|GER}} Wetzlar, Germany (1959)
• {{flagicon|NED}} Zaanstad, Netherlands (1955)

{{div col end}}

Berlin neukoelln county-court 20050228 p1010186.jpg|County Court

Berlin Neukoelln Rathaus asv2021-03 img1.jpg|City hall

Skulptur Karl-Marx-Str 83 (Neukö) Buddy Bär.jpg|Buddy Bear Neukölln in front of the City hall

Landwehrkanal 2005-06-24.jpg|Landwehrkanal

Bundesarchiv Bild 183-C0104-0010-001, Berlin, Grenzübergang Sonnenallee, West-Berliner Besucher.jpg|Border crossing at Sonnenallee, 1964

Stadtbad B-Neukoelln 07-2014.jpg|Stadtbad Neukölln

{{Portal|Germany}}

• Berlin-Neukölln (electoral district)
• Hermannplatz

{{reflist}}

{{Commons|Bezirk Neukölln|Neukölln}}

{{Wikivoyage}}

• {{in lang|de}} [http://www.neukoelln-online.de/ Official homepage]
• {{in lang|de}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20181127042251/http://www.neukoelln.tv/ WebTV from Berlin, Neukoelln]

{{Boroughs of Berlin}}

{{Former Boroughs of Berlin}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Neukolln}}

Category:Districts of Berlin

Category:Ethnic enclaves in Germany

Category:Former boroughs of Berlin

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