Street name change from Treitschkestraße to Betty-Katzstraße forthcoming
In the heart of Berlin, changes are underway as the city works to remove antisemitic references from its streets. The latest move comes with the renaming of Treitschkestraße in Steglitz to Betty-Katz-Straße, a tribute to a Holocaust victim and a significant step towards eradicating antisemitism from the cityscape.
Heinrich von Treitschke (1834-1896), a history professor known for his nationalist and antisemitic views, will no longer be honoured by the street that bears his name. Treitschke is considered a pioneer of political antisemitism in Germany, and his controversial legacy has long been a subject of debate.
The renaming of Treitschkestraße is part of a larger initiative in Berlin, sparked by a dossier presented by Samuel Salzborn, the contact person for antisemitism in Berlin. The dossier listed 290 streets and places with historical figures who are considered antisemites, have expressed antisemitic views, or have represented antisemitic resentments.
Betty Katz, the new namesake of Treitschkestraße, was a victim of the Holocaust. Born in Posen in 1872, she was the director of the Jewish blind home in the Steglitz Wrangelstraße before her tragic death in June 1944 in the Theresienstadt concentration camp.
The district and several initiatives drove the renaming of Mohrenstraße, another street in Berlin-Mitte, because the term 'Mohr' is considered racist. Just at the end of August, the former Mohrenstraße was renamed to Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Straße, based on the scholar Anton Wilhelm Amo from West Africa, who lived in the 18th century and is considered the first black philosopher and jurist at German universities.
The Maerckerweg in Lankwitz has been renamed to Maria-Rimkus-Weg, and the former Elkartsweg in the Spandau district has been renamed to Erna-Koschwitz-Weg. These changes reflect Berlin's commitment to honouring diverse figures and removing offensive names from its streets.
The renaming of Treitschkestraße to Betty-Katz-Straße is scheduled for October 1, 2025. A dual signage with the name 'Treitschkestraße' crossed out in red is planned, marking a clear break from the past and a celebration of the life of Betty Katz.
Maren Schellenberg, district mayor of Greens, expressed that the renaming is an important step to remove antisemites from the cityscape and honor Betty Katz. The renaming of several streets in Berlin aims to create a cityscape that reflects the city's commitment to diversity, equality, and the remembrance of its tragic past.
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