Betty Katz Street Identification - Street Name Change: Treitschkestraße to Be Betty-Katzstraße
In a significant move to remove anti-semitic references from its cityscape, Berlin is set to rename Treitschkestraße in Steglitz to Betty-Katz-Straße on October 1st. Betty Katz, the new street's namesake, was a victim of the Holocaust. She served as the director of the Jewish blind home in Berlin-Steglitz before her tragic death in June 1944 in the Theresienstadt concentration camp. The renaming is a response to a dossier presented by Samuel Salzborn, the contact person for the state of Berlin on anti-semitism, in December 2021. The dossier listed 290 streets and squares in Berlin with namesakes considered anti-semitic, anti-Semitic, or representing anti-Semitic prejudices. The ongoing renaming process is part of Berlin's commitment to addressing its historical ties to anti-semitism. Heinrich von Treitschke, the street's previous namesake, was a history professor, including in Berlin. He was criticized for his nationalist and anti-Semitic views during his time, and is considered a pioneer of political anti-semitism in Germany. His formulation 'The Jews are our misfortune' was later adopted by the Nazis. The renaming of Treitschkestraße is not the first instance of changing street names with racist or anti-Semitic connotations in Berlin. In August, the former Mohrenstraße in Berlin-Mitte was renamed to Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Straße. Mohrenstraße was renamed due to the term 'Mohr' being considered racist, while Anton Wilhelm Amo, the new name's namesake, was the first black philosopher and jurist at German universities, living in the 18th century. The district mayor, Maren Schellenberg (Greens), stated that the renaming is an important step to remove anti-semitic references from the cityscape and honor Betty Katz. The Betty-Katz-Straße will still be recognizable as Treitschkestraße for six months, with dual signage featuring crossed-out 'Treitschkestraße' in red. The Maerckerweg in Lankwitz was previously renamed to Maria-Rimkus-Weg, and the former Elkartsweg in the Spandau district was renamed to Erna-Koschwitz-Weg. These renamings are part of Berlin's ongoing efforts to create a cityscape that reflects its commitment to combating anti-semitism and promoting diversity and inclusivity.
