Treitschkestrasse in Steglitz: Now Betty-Katz-Strasse - changing memories!

Treitschkestrasse in Steglitz: Now Betty-Katz-Strasse - changing memories!

Treitschkestrasse in Berlin-Steglitz was officially renamed Betty-Katz-Strasse on Wednesday. This decision, which was made after more than 30 years of intensive debate in the district council, marks an important step in dealing with German history and anti-Semitism. The renaming event, where the new street sign was unveiled, attracted around 200 people, including students and members of the District Council (BVV) reported the Tagesspiegel.

Heinrich von Treitschke, after whom the street was named, was a 19th century historian and politician. He is controversial because of his anti-Semitic statements, including the sentence “The Jews are our misfortune,” which was later exploited by the National Socialists. In political discussion, Treitschke is considered a pioneer of modern anti-Semitism and called for the assimilation of Jewish Germans. His views were particularly influential in connection with the “Berlin anti-Semitism dispute”. writes rbb24.

Renaming and its meaning

The renaming to Betty-Katz-Straße is not only an act of remembrance, but also a clear stance against anti-Semitism. Betty Katz, born in Posen in 1872, was director of the Jewish home for the blind in Steglitz and was murdered in the Theresienstadt concentration camp in 1944. The district mayor Maren Schellenberg (Greens) commented positively on the renaming and emphasized its importance for the culture of remembrance reports the Tagesspiegel.

The renaming will occur during a six-month transition period during which both names will appear on signs. Citizens affected by the renaming have the opportunity to have their identification documents changed free of charge at the Citizens' Registration Office. This regulation was decided in advance of the renaming and shows the practical approach of those responsible to the changes in street naming so rbb24.

Social reflection

The push for renaming and the causes of the debate are in the context of a broader discussion about street names in Berlin with anti-Semitic references. An analysis by political scientist Felix Sassmannshausen has shown that around 290 streets in Berlin have problematic names. The Berlin anti-Semitism commissioner Samuel Salzborn emphasizes that although the city has had debates about such names in the past, they were not systematically pursued states Deutschlandfunk Kultur.

The decision to rename shows that there is a major social change that seeks to address anti-Semitism in public spaces and the city's memory. The counting community made up of the Greens, SPD and FDP supported the renaming, while the CDU was often not represented in the votes or expressed skepticism. These diverging points of view illustrate the complex political and social conditions that play a role in the naming process said the Tagesspiegel.