Hafenstraße
Encyclopedia
Hafenstraße is a common German abbreviation of St. Pauli-Hafenstraße, a street in St. Pauli
, a quarter of Hamburg
, Germany
.
It is known for a former squat. The initial squat was started in 1981 by people squatting empty flats in houses in the streets St. Pauli-Hafenstraße and Bernhard-Nocht-Straße.
Today, Hafenstraße consists of 12 houses owned by a cooperative
administered by the residents.
s existed between the occupants and the buildings' former owner, the City of Hamburg.
Between the initial occupation of the squat and 1992 there were often riot
s and militant
conflicts between the squatters and police
forces or groups of fascists mixed with hooligans
. They have been referred to as helping originate the Black Bloc
.
To the squatter movement of the 1980s, Hafenstraße was a focal point for various social conflicts. Solidarity with these issues led to growing conflict with the state. Meetings were held at the end of the years 1984 to 1990, where up to 5000 people participated. Discussions covered topics such as squatting, anti-NATO politics, anti-nuclear
politics, the question of political prisoner
s and international solidarity.
In 1987, after the first contract expired, barricade
s were built up to save the squat. A pirate radio
station, "Radio Hafenstraße", was set up a month before to provide information on the situation. After 8 days of barricades, a new contract was negotiated between the squatters, their supporters and the City of Hamburg.
In 1990 a campaign was started against Hafenstraße, stating that supporters of the Red Army Faction
were living there. A raid using 1000 police was initiated by the Bundesanwaltschaft, the German General State Prosecutor
, but no real evidence was found to support the allegations.
After the final contract expired the houses were sold to a cooperative to defuse the potential for conflict between the residents and the state.
St. Pauli
St. Pauli , located in the Hamburg-Mitte borough, is one of the 105 quarters of the city of Hamburg, Germany. Situated on the right bank of the Elbe river, the Landungsbrücken are a northern part of the port of Hamburg. St. Pauli contains a world famous red light district around the street Reeperbahn...
, a quarter of Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
It is known for a former squat. The initial squat was started in 1981 by people squatting empty flats in houses in the streets St. Pauli-Hafenstraße and Bernhard-Nocht-Straße.
Today, Hafenstraße consists of 12 houses owned by a cooperative
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
administered by the residents.
History
Although referred to as a squat, during its history various contractContract
A contract is an agreement entered into by two parties or more with the intention of creating a legal obligation, which may have elements in writing. Contracts can be made orally. The remedy for breach of contract can be "damages" or compensation of money. In equity, the remedy can be specific...
s existed between the occupants and the buildings' former owner, the City of Hamburg.
Between the initial occupation of the squat and 1992 there were often riot
Riot
A riot is a form of civil disorder characterized often by what is thought of as disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of violence against authority, property or people. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots are thought to be typically chaotic and...
s and militant
Militant
The word militant, which is both an adjective and a noun, usually is used to mean vigorously active, combative and aggressive, especially in support of a cause, as in 'militant reformers'. It comes from the 15th century Latin "militare" meaning "to serve as a soldier"...
conflicts between the squatters and police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
forces or groups of fascists mixed with hooligans
Hooliganism
Hooliganism refers to unruly, destructive, aggressive and bullying behaviour. Such behaviour is commonly associated with sports fans. The term can also apply to general rowdy behaviour and vandalism, often under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs....
. They have been referred to as helping originate the Black Bloc
Black bloc
A black bloc is a tactic for protests and marches, whereby individuals wear black clothing, scarves, ski masks, motorcycle helmets with padding, or other face-concealing items...
.
To the squatter movement of the 1980s, Hafenstraße was a focal point for various social conflicts. Solidarity with these issues led to growing conflict with the state. Meetings were held at the end of the years 1984 to 1990, where up to 5000 people participated. Discussions covered topics such as squatting, anti-NATO politics, anti-nuclear
Anti-nuclear
The anti-nuclear movement is a social movement that opposes the use of nuclear technologies. Many direct action groups, environmental groups, and professional organisations have identified themselves with the movement at the local, national, and international level...
politics, the question of political prisoner
Political prisoner
According to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, a political prisoner is ‘someone who is in prison because they have opposed or criticized the government of their own country’....
s and international solidarity.
In 1987, after the first contract expired, barricade
Barricade
Barricade, from the French barrique , is any object or structure that creates a barrier or obstacle to control, block passage or force the flow of traffic in the desired direction...
s were built up to save the squat. A pirate radio
Pirate radio
Pirate radio is illegal or unregulated radio transmission. The term is most commonly used to describe illegal broadcasting for entertainment or political purposes, but is also sometimes used for illegal two-way radio operation...
station, "Radio Hafenstraße", was set up a month before to provide information on the situation. After 8 days of barricades, a new contract was negotiated between the squatters, their supporters and the City of Hamburg.
In 1990 a campaign was started against Hafenstraße, stating that supporters of the Red Army Faction
Red Army Faction
The radicalized were, like many in the New Left, influenced by:* Sociological developments, pressure within the educational system in and outside Europe and the U.S...
were living there. A raid using 1000 police was initiated by the Bundesanwaltschaft, the German General State Prosecutor
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
, but no real evidence was found to support the allegations.
After the final contract expired the houses were sold to a cooperative to defuse the potential for conflict between the residents and the state.
External links
Literature
- Hermann, Michael u.a., Hafenstraße, 'Chronik und Analysen eines Konfliktes', Verlag am Galgenberg, ISBN 3-925387-34-X ,1987 (in German)
- Sigmund, Monika; Zu bunt: Wandbilder in der Hafenstraße, ISBN 300000713X, 1996 (in German)
- Mallet, Carl H; Die Leute von der Hafenstraße, Über eine andere Art zu leben, ISBN 389401346X, 2000 (in German)
- Lehne, Werner; Der Konflikt um die Hafenstraße, Kriminalitätsdiskurse im Kontext symbolischer Politik, Hamburger Studien zur Kriminologie, 18, ISBN 3890858937, 1994 (in German)