Rote Insel
Encyclopedia
Rote Insel is the name colloquially given to a neighborhood in the Schöneberg
district of the German
capital, Berlin
. As such, the Island is part of Berlin's 7th administrative borough
, Tempelhof-Schöneberg
.
in the conventional sense, i.e., surrounded by water
.
The neighborhood is especially notable for its peculiar history, being very indicative of the sharp contrasts that modern German history
since 1871 abounds with. Up until the end of World War I
, roughly half of the Island's territory was characterized by its extensive use by the Prussia
n army, whereas the other half was a pronouncedly working-class residential district, dominated by voters of left-wing parties (hence the "red").
As the Island survived the allied air raids
during World War II
virtually intact, it has managed to maintain a great deal of its distinctive flavor to the present day. It is nowadays a very mixed neighborhood, populated by residents from fairly varied ethnic backgrounds, with a certain unobtrusive Bohème charm to it, but lacking the slightly exalted mannerisms so typical for the "hipper"
quarters of post-reunification
Berlin.
The most famous celebrity associated with the neighborhood is Marlene Dietrich
, who was born in Leberstrasse 65 (then called Sedanstrasse) on December 27, 1901. To this day, she is very much a part of the local folklore on the Island. Alfred Lion
, known among jazz
aficionados as founder of the legendary Blue Note
record label, was also born in the neighborhood.
Schöneberg
Schöneberg is a locality of Berlin, Germany. Until Berlin's 2001 administrative reform it was a separate borough including the locality of Friedenau. Together with the former borough of Tempelhof it is now part of the new borough of Tempelhof-Schöneberg....
district of the German
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...
capital, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. As such, the Island is part of Berlin's 7th administrative borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
, Tempelhof-Schöneberg
Tempelhof-Schöneberg
Tempelhof-Schöneberg is the seventh borough of Berlin, formed in 2001 by merging the former boroughs of Tempelhof and Schöneberg.-Geography:...
.
Overview
On the Berlin city map, the neighborhood is easily located within the distinctive triangle (formed by railroad tracks) in the south-western part of the city center. Owing to the large trenches dug to accommodate these tracks for trains and light-rail, the only way to access this part of Schöneberg is by crossing one of the many bridges that span the tracks, thus forming the area into an "island." Additionally, the comparative isolation from the adjoining parts of Berlin is also an important reason for the area's being considered insular—it is therefore not an islandIsland
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in the conventional sense, i.e., surrounded by water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
.
The neighborhood is especially notable for its peculiar history, being very indicative of the sharp contrasts that modern German history
History of Germany
The concept of Germany as a distinct region in central Europe can be traced to Roman commander Julius Caesar, who referred to the unconquered area east of the Rhine as Germania, thus distinguishing it from Gaul , which he had conquered. The victory of the Germanic tribes in the Battle of the...
since 1871 abounds with. Up until the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, roughly half of the Island's territory was characterized by its extensive use by the Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n army, whereas the other half was a pronouncedly working-class residential district, dominated by voters of left-wing parties (hence the "red").
As the Island survived the allied air raids
Airstrike
An air strike is an attack on a specific objective by military aircraft during an offensive mission. Air strikes are commonly delivered from aircraft such as fighters, bombers, ground attack aircraft, attack helicopters, and others...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
virtually intact, it has managed to maintain a great deal of its distinctive flavor to the present day. It is nowadays a very mixed neighborhood, populated by residents from fairly varied ethnic backgrounds, with a certain unobtrusive Bohème charm to it, but lacking the slightly exalted mannerisms so typical for the "hipper"
Hip (slang)
Hip is a slang term meaning fashionably current and in the know. Hip is the opposite of square or prude.Hip, like cool, does not refer to one specific quality. What is considered hip is continuously changing. The term hip is said to have originated in African American Vernacular English in the...
quarters of post-reunification
German reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
Berlin.
The most famous celebrity associated with the neighborhood is Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich was a German-American actress and singer.Dietrich remained popular throughout her long career by continually re-inventing herself, professionally and characteristically. In the Berlin of the 1920s, she acted on the stage and in silent films...
, who was born in Leberstrasse 65 (then called Sedanstrasse) on December 27, 1901. To this day, she is very much a part of the local folklore on the Island. Alfred Lion
Alfred Lion
Alfred Lion was a Jewish German-born American record executive who co-founded Blue Note Records in 1939 Blue Note recorded many of the biggest names in jazz throughout the 1940s, 50s, and 60s.-Biography:...
, known among jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
aficionados as founder of the legendary Blue Note
Blue Note Records
Blue Note Records is a jazz record label, established in 1939 by Alfred Lion and Max Margulis. Francis Wolff became involved shortly afterwards. It derives its name from the characteristic "blue notes" of jazz and the blues. At the end of the 1950s, and in the early 1960s, Blue Note headquarters...
record label, was also born in the neighborhood.