Fire devil in Charlottenburg: man sets library on fire!

Fire devil in Charlottenburg: man sets library on fire!

On November 9, 2025, a shocking incident occurred in Charlottenburg when police arrested a 35-year-old man after attempting serious arson. The emergency services were alerted at around 12:10 p.m. when the flames broke out in the public library of the French Cultural Center on Kurfürstendamm. The suspect had doused several books with accelerant and set them on fire. Fortunately, those present were able to quickly extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher, so there were no injuries. The man remained at the scene and allowed himself to be arrested without resistance. He said that the historical events in the books were misrepresented. After being processed for identification, he was transferred to the fire department of the State Criminal Police Office, but the investigators later released him from police action.

The French cultural center in whose library this incident took place has a turbulent history. It is located in the former residential and commercial building at Kurfürstendamm 211, which was built in 1897. The architectural masterpiece was designed by master builder Wilhelm Klopsch in the historicist style. Over time, the building changed hands frequently; among other things, it was under the management of the architectural office of Hans and Wassili Luckhardt and Alfons Anker, which was responsible for a redesign in the New Objectivity style in the 1920s. In 1948, the British military government handed the building over to the French military government, which set up a cultural center for the Franco-German encounter there. The cultural center was officially opened on April 21, 1950 and has since offered facilities such as the Institut français Berlin, a cinema and a library.

Historical significance of the Kurfürstendamm

Kurfürstendamm has undergone a fascinating development as one of the most important streets in Berlin. In the 19th century, especially after the opening of the steam tram, the area developed rapidly and was characterized by magnificent tenement houses. The development attracted important personalities and the boulevard became a cultural center in which cafés, entertainment venues, cabarets and theaters were established. Theodor Fontane described the region in 1892 as a “desert panorama” with asparagus beds, which underlines the drastic change in the environment. In the years up to 1905, the “Kurfürstendamm architecture” was created, which has both positive and negative connotations.

While the number of residents on Kurfürstendamm grew steadily, the Jewish population was significant at around 25% of the residents during this time. The Kurfürstendamm was not only a living space, but also a place of social life where artists and intellectuals came together, especially in the “Café des Westens”. The area was ultimately also characterized by prominent events and developments such as the construction of department stores, which transformed the boulevard into a popular shopping mile.

In view of current events, it becomes clear how important cultural institutions like the Maison de France are for preserving the historical heritage and cultural identity in Berlin. An incident like this opens up old wounds and shows that dialogue on the historical issues discussed is of central importance in order to protect and promote cultural diversity.