Treitschkestrasse gives way: Betty Katz fights against anti -Semitism!

Treitschkestrasse gives way: Betty Katz fights against anti -Semitism!

Treitschkestraße, 12161 Berlin, Deutschland - On May 24, 2025, the Treitschkestraße in Berlin-Steglitz will officially renamed Betty-Katz-Straße. This decision follows over 20 years of continuing discussions and several failed attempts to renamed it. The decision of the Steglitz-Zehlendorf (BVV) district council not only reflects the social examination of Heinrich von Treitschke's legacy, but is also a symbolic step in the fight against anti-Semitism.

Heinrich von Treitschke, who lived between 1834 and 1896, was a historian, publicist and a prominent political figure in the German Empire. It is considered one of the pioneers of modern anti -Semitism and is known for his insulting statements about the Jewish community, such as the sentence "The Jews are our misfortune". This attitude led to a profound social conflict, which is known as a Berlin anti -Semititis dispute, and was a significant part of the 19th century disputes about the role of Judaism in Germany wikipedia .

Betty Katz: A symbol of resistance

The street named after Betty Katz honors the director of the Jewish blind home, who was murdered by the Nazis in 1944. The renaming represents a positive change of orientation, especially in view of the history and discrimination that Jews suffered in Germany. A dossier from 2021 had already stimulated a renaming to take the history of Treitschke, and the BVV finally gave the green light for this step in early 2025

The demand for renaming goes back to 2000 when the Patmos parish of the first initiatives started. Despite later resistances, including the opposite opinions of residents - which in 2012 and 2022 surveys spoke against a renaming (74% and 85%) - BVV found a new majority. This time even representatives of the CDU voted for the renaming, although there were partially critical voices within the party. Claudia Wein from the CDU Treitschke described as "controversial", while Daniel Eliasson from the Greens defended the renaming as an important step in commitment to anti -Semitism.

reactions and next steps

The residents show mixed reactions to the upcoming renaming. While some support the decision, different skepticism. In order to facilitate the changeover to the affected residents, the district office is planning to introduce a “citizen office case” to offer bureaucratic relief.

The official announcement of the renaming is expected to be published in the Official Journal in June, while the actual execution is scheduled to take place in October 2025. This date not only marks a final act in a lengthy debate, but also sets a sign of an inclusive future that takes the teachings from the past seriously.

In the context, the renaming of the Treitschkestrasse speaks volumes about the current social discourse in Germany, and illustrates how important it is to deal with your own history. The development and decisions of today shape our memory and the values ​​for which we want to stand up.