Lichterfelde (Berlin)

Lichterfelde (Berlin)
Lichterfelde is a locality in the borough of Steglitz-Zehlendorf in Berlin, Germany. Until 2001 it was part of the former borough of Steglitz, along with Steglitz and Lankwitz. Lichterfelde is home to institutions like the Berlin Botanical Garden and Museum, the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND), the German Federal Archives and the Charité university hospital's Benjamin Franklin Campus. Many embassies and landmark-protected buildings are located in the affluent mansion settlement in Lichterfelde West.
History
The Prussian village was founded in the 13th century by Flemish settlers. It witnessed considerable growth in the 19th century when the two "villa colonies" of and were founded: elegant settlements for wealthy Berliners consisting completely of villas or mansions. These settlements and the historical villages of and were united in 1880 under the name (Greater Lichterfelde).
Lichterfelde was chosen as the seat of the Prussian Main Military academy, the , in 1882, and the district became the home to many famous families from the German nobility due to their connections with the Prussian Army. The world's first commercially successful electrified tram line, the Gross-Lichterfelde tramway, opened between the railway station and the in 1881.
In 1920 became part of Greater Berlin. Between 1920 and 1933, the former military academy in was used by the Berlin Police. From 1933 to 1945, the grounds of the military academy were the home of the . During this same period, the anti-Nazi resistance group surrounding Count and held their secret meetings inside 's apartment on during the Third Reich. had his house on in .
From 1945 to 1994 the was in use as "Andrews Barracks" by the United States Army's Berlin Brigade. Today it belongs to the German Federal Archives, headquartered in . Two other kasernes "Roosevelt Barracks" in (former seat of the Prussian Army's Guards Rifles Battalion) and "McNair Barracks", a former manufacturing plant on were nearby.
While was in parts badly damaged during World War II, Lichterfelde West is still largely intact and today one of the prime residential areas of Berlin. The locality also houses the Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum and the Campus Benjamin Franklin, built in 1968 and today part of the university hospital.
Quarters of Lichterfelde
Lichterfelde West
Lichterfelde West was developed as a settlement of mansions and is one of the wealthiest residential areas of Berlin. It is home to the Berlin Botanical Garden and embassies. The Teltow Canal geographically separates it from the eastern parts of Lichterfelde. Its 19th-century commercial area is centered around the Lichterfelde West railway station, which also serves nearby Free University of Berlin in neighboring Dahlem. Most of the commercial and residential buildings in Lichterfelde West are protected landmarks.
Lichterfelde Ost
Lichterfelde Ost, like Lichterfelde West, was also developed as a settlement of mansions, yet many of the estates were damaged in World War II. The Lichterfelde Ost railway station serves as a hub for regional rail and commuter rail and is surrounded by a large commercial area.
Lichterfelde Süd
Lichterfelde Süd was developed in the 1960s and 1970s and is large made up of suburban housing estates, being a significant architectural deviation from the older mansion settlements. The Otto Lilienthal Memorial Park with the artificial conical hill, from which he started many of his flight attempts, is located in Lichterfelde Süd.
Sights
Otto Lilienthal monument - the memorial plaque which is located in Schütte-Lanz-Straße 25, Berlin-Lichterfelde, was built in memory of Otto Lilienthal - a German pioneer of human aviation who became known as the Glider King. He was the first person to make successful gliding flights.
Berlin Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum
Lichterfelde Manor - historic manor house of the former village Lichterfelde
Lichterfelde West - a villa colony from the 19th century
Lichterfelde village church - Church from the 14th century
McNair Barracks - former US Army installation in Lichterfelde, today a residential building
Important people
Sons and daughters of the district
Maximilian Beyer, Catholic pastor
Hasso von Boehmer, Lieutenant Colonel in the General Staff, murdered resistance fighter on July 20, 1944
Bully Buhlan, singer
Fler, rapper
Peter Fox, musician
Götz George, actor
Peter Huchel, writer
Rolf Johannesson, Rear Admiral of the German Navy
Max Kaus, painter and graphic artist
Julius Posener, architectural historian
Samra, rapper
Nils Seethaler, Anthropologist
Gerd Tellenbach, historian
Bettina Wegner, songwriter and poet
Celebrities at the Lichterfelde park cemetery
The following personalities were buried in the Parkfriedhof Lichterfelde among many others:
See also
Berlin-Lichterfelde Ost railway station
Lichterfelde Süd station
Berlin-Lichterfelde West station
Berlin Botanischer Garten station
Osdorfer Straße station
References
External links
Picture of the ancient Coat of Arms of Lichterfelde
Life in Andrews Barracks in 1969
Populated places established in the 1300s
Localities of Berlin