The years 1945–1953

The southern Hansaviertel – “Interim of the 70 Houses”

Several air raids in January and March 1943 and, above all, a major attack in the night of 22nd to 23rd November 1943, almost completely destroyed the Hansaviertel of the imperial era. Of the 343 houses, 70 remained, many of which were badly damaged.(1) The churches were also destroyed. In order to give shelter to the many war refugees, displaced persons and people made homeless by the bombardments, the remaining large middle-class apartments in the Hansaviertel were each divided into four or five smaller units.

About 4000 people still lived here in the narrowest of spaces and between the rubble. (2)

Due to the enormous housing shortage in 1951, the district of Tiergarten sought to organize a competition for the reconstruction of the area, but this was not approved by the Senate. Not only that, there was a suspension of all building work in the Hansaviertel. The valuable inner-city residential area thus lay fallow, waiting for its revival. It was not until 1953 that the Senate itself announced an ideas competition for the reconstruction of the Hansaviertel and declared it the core area of the International Building Exhibition Interbau.

Damage plan of the Hansaviertel, plan for the Interbau 1957 Schadensplan, aus: Interbauheft 1, Berlin 1957, S. 5
Landesarchiv Berlin

The ruin of the Kaiser-Friedrich-Gedächtniskirche (Kaiser Friedrich Memorial Church) Archiv der Kaiser-Friedrich-Gedächtniskirche.

Wood collectors in the Tiergarten in front of the ruins of the Hansaviertel, 1947 Landesarchiv Berlin

The area around the Lessingstraße between the Kaiser-Friedrich-Gedächtniskirche, and Hansaplatz resembling a moon landscape, 1954 Landesarchiv Berlin

The ruins… Landesarchiv Berlin

… of the formerly grand residential buildings Landesarchiv Berlin

Dr. Sandra Wagner-Conzelmann

> Jewish Neighbours

Timeline

Until 1933
Development and settlement
Until the end of the 18th century, the “Schöneberger Wiesen” are still undeveloped floodplains. At the end of the 19th century, the district quickly becomes a sought-after urban residential quarter.
1933–1945
Under the swastika
Plans to convert Berlin into a prestigious seat of government and the imperial capital “Germania” also have an impact on the residents of the Hansaviertel. Many Jewish citizens are deported.
1943
Destruction in World War II
Several air raids in January and March 1943 and, above all, a major attack in the night of 22 to 23 November 1943 almost completely destroy the Hansaviertel of the imperial age.
1945–1953
After the war
Of the 343 houses, 70 remain, many of them badly damaged. About 4000 people still live in the narrowest of spaces and between rubble.
1951
Stalinallee
Stalinallee is built before the Hansaviertel and is regarded as a model for metropolitan architecture and urban planning in the GDR. The architect Hermann Henselmann was inspired by the “Socialist Classicism” of the Soviet Union.
1953
Tendering of the Interbau
As a reaction to Stalinallee, the Senate announces an ideas competition for the reconstruction of the Hansaviertel and declares it the core area of the International Building Exhibition Interbau.
1957
Interbau 57
With the International Building Exhibition, the new Hansaviertel, a modern urban quarter with designs by numerous internationally renowned architects, is created. The individually designed buildings in an open development represent an alternative model to the uniform monumental architecture of Stalinallee in the eastern part of the city.
1980er Jahre
Hansaviertel before the fall of Communism
Interest in this residential area wanes in the 80s. Among other things, the homogenous demographic is criticized. In addition, the peripheral location makes the Hansaviertel less attractive after the Wall is built.
2018
25 years after reunification
The turning point comes after the fall of the Wall. The quarter moves back into the center. In 1995, it becomes a protected monument and gains popularity. Today, it is a sought-after residential area. Berlin wants to have the Hansaviertel and the former Stalinallee put on the UNESCO World Heritage list.