Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg (German: [ˈfʁiːdʁɪçsˌhaɪn ˈkʁɔʏtsbɛʁk] ⓘ) is the second borough of Berlin, formed in 2001 by merging the former East Berlin borough of Friedrichshain and the former West Berlin borough of Kreuzberg. The historic Oberbaum Bridge, formerly a Berlin border crossing for pedestrians, links both districts across the river Spree as the new borough's landmark (as featured in the coat of arms).

Subdivisions of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

For the museum, see Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg Museum. For the electoral district, see Berlin-Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg – Prenzlauer Berg East.
Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Borough of Berlin
Flag of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Flag
Coat of arms of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Coat of arms
Location of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg in Berlin
Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg is located in Germany
Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg is located in Berlin
Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Coordinates: 52°30′N 13°27′E
CountryGermany
StateBerlin
CityBerlin
Subdivisions2 localities
Government
 • Borough MayorClara Herrmann (Greens)
Area
 • Total20.16 km2 (7.78 sq mi)
Population
 (2020-12-31)[1]
 • Total289,787
 • Density14,000/km2 (37,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Vehicle registrationB
Websiteofficial homepage

The counterculture tradition especially of Kreuzberg has led to the borough being a stronghold for the Green Party. While Kreuzberg is characterised by a high number of immigrants, the share of non-German citizens in Friedrichshain is much lower and the average age is higher. The merger between the distinct quarters is celebrated by an annual anarchic "vegetable fight" on the Oberbaumbrücke. Both parts have to deal with the consequences of gentrification.

History

The Berlin district of Kreuzberg-Friedrichshain has a rich and complex history that reflects the city's changing political and cultural landscape over the past two centuries.

Located in the heart of the city, Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain were once separate neighborhoods that were united into a single district in 2001. The area is known for its diverse and vibrant cultural scene, as well as its history as a center of political activism and counterculture.

Kreuzberg has a long history as a working-class neighborhood and was heavily damaged during World War II. After the war, the area became home to many immigrants, including Turkish and other migrants from the Middle East and Europe. In the 1970s and 1980s, Kreuzberg became a center of political activism and alternative culture, with a large youth and student population. Friedrichshain, on the other hand, has a more diverse history. It was originally a working-class neighborhood, but was heavily bombed during World War II and then divided by the Berlin Wall after the war. After the fall of the Wall in 1989, Friedrichshain underwent a process of gentrification and became a popular neighborhood for artists, students, and young professionals. In recent years, both Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain have become popular tourist destinations, known for their lively streets, diverse cultural scene, and rich history.

Subdivision

Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg is divided into 2 localities, Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg.

Politics

District council

The governing body of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg 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:

Party Lead candidate Votes  % +/- Seats +/-
Alliance 90/The Greens (Grüne) Clara Hermmann 48,254 34.6 Increase 1.9 22 Increase 2
The Left (LINKE) Oliver Nöll 30,124 21.6 Increase 0.8 13 Increase 1
Social Democratic Party (SPD) Andy Hehmke 20,554 14.8 Decrease 2.5 9 Decrease 1
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Timur Husein 10,898 7.8 Increase 0.1 5 Increase 1
Free Democratic Party (FDP) Marlene Heihsel 6,561 4.7 Increase 1.5 3 Increase 1
Die PARTEI Riza Cörtlen 5,214 3.7 Decrease 0.9 2 ±0
Alternative for Germany (AfD) Frank Scheermesser 4,333 3.1 Decrease 3.1 1 Decrease 2
Tierschutzpartei 3,185 2.3 New 0 New
Volt Germany 2,922 2.1 New 0 New
Klimaliste 2,329 1.7 New 0 New
dieBasis 2,267 1.6 New 0 New
Bergpartei 989 0.7 New 0 New
The Humanists 528 0.4 New 0 New
We are Berlin 506 0.4 New 0 New
Open List Friedrichshain 321 0.2 New 0 New
Ecological Democratic Party 285 0.2 Decrease 0.2 0 ±0
Valid votes 139,270 99.3
Invalid votes 951 0.7
Total 140,221 100.0 55 ±0
Electorate/voter turnout 198,561 70.6 Increase 8.5
Source: Elections Berlin

District government

The district mayor (Bezirksbürgermeister) is elected by the Bezirksverordnetenversammlung, and positions in the district government (Bezirksamt) are apportioned based on party strength. Clara Herrmann of the Greens was elected mayor on 6 December 2021. Since the 2021 municipal elections, the composition of the district government is as follows:

Councillor Party Portfolio
Clara Herrmann GRÜNE District Mayor
Finance, Staff, Economy and Culture
Oliver Nöll LINKE Deputy Mayor
Labour, Civil Service and Social Affairs
Annika Gerold GRÜNE Traffic, Green Spaces, Order and Environment
Andy Hehmke SPD Education, Sport and Logistics
Florian Schmidt GRÜNE Construction, Planning and Urban Development
Regina Sommer-Wetter LINKE Youth, Family and Health
Source: Berlin.de

Twin towns – sister cities
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg is twinned with:[2]

See also

References
  1. "Einwohnerinnen und Einwohner im Land Berlin am 31. Dezember 2020" (PDF). Amt für Statistik Berlin-Brandenburg. February 2021.
  2. "Städtepartnerschaften - Elf Partner auf der ganzen Welt". berlin.de (in German). Berlin. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
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