Neighborhood Nostalgia: Living in the Shadow of the Past
NYT reveals details about the rural community nestled in Krumme Lanke Forest
Hidden between Grunewald and a lake, Berlin's idyllic settlement of Waldsiedlung Krumme Lanke exudes tranquility - half-timbered houses, chirping birds, and children playing by the water. However, dwellers here inhabit a place steeped in controversial history - a protected neighborhood with troubling origins. This picturesque enclave was initially constructed for the SS, a chilling reminder of the dark past and its far-reaching impact on the present.
Recently, the New York Times shone a light on this neighborhood's heritage, questioning: how does one call a home built by perpetrators, yet planned crimes against humanity? Caroline Frey, a resident, sums it up poignantly, "Are the bricks evil?" Frey and her partner, Elmar Bassen, a young human rights lawyer, purchased a house once owned by the infamous Nazi doctor, Joachim Mrugowsky. Participating in this historical dwelling was a thoughtful decision for Frey, conscious of the responsibility to confront the past. "We remember because remembering the terrible can prevent it from happening again," they believed.
History Haunts the Present
Residents like Susanne Bücker, a family doctor, have brought the past into the foreground with an open letter to neighbors on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz's liberation. Her call to vigilance against the resurgence of right-wing extremist forces sparked unity within the community.
"We bear a weighty responsibility," she reiterated in the New York Times. Though today's residents bear no guilt for the horrors committed in the past, they inhabit a place that symbolized Nazi ideology. As the AfD, a right-wing extremist party, gains influence, remembering becomes not just an option, but a duty.
From Silence to Dialogue
Over the years, the neighborhood has seen a shift in attitudes towards its dark past. In the 1990s, historians struggled to find willing conversation partners. However, today, interest and engagement with the area's history are on the rise. A memorial plaque graces the entrance, reminding visitors of the settlement's origins since 2009.
Yet, the legacy lingers ambiguously. As Henning Müller, a resident, told the newspaper, "We have a charming life. Simultaneously, this dark history is woven into our everyday existence."
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/15/world/europe/berlin-waldsiedlung-nazi-past.html [3] https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/krumme-lanke-heute-leben-in-einem-haus-von-nazigeist-a-809f3f83-bd41-492e-83c9-90611a5b1bb8
Faced with the hard realities of their neighborhood's history, residents of Waldsiedlung Krumme Lanke grapple with understanding and addressing its complex legacy while creating a life worth living.
- In light of their neighborhood's controversial past, homeowners must foster a dialogue and find ways to reconcile the idyllic 'lifestyle' with the lingering shadows of the 'general-news' that originally shaped their 'home-and-garden' environment.
- As national politics become increasingly polarized, residents of Waldsiedlung Krumme Lanke must be vigilant against the resurgence of extremist ideologies in 'politics', while simultaneously embracing their 'home-and-garden' community's past and striving for a harmonious 'lifestyle'.
