Hobbs, Mark (2010) Visual representations of working-class Berlin, 1924–1930. PhD thesis. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/2182/ Copyright and moral rights for this thesis are retained by the author A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the Author The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the Author When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given Glasgow Theses Service http://theses.gla.ac.uk/ [email protected] Visual representations of working-class Berlin, 1924–1930 Mark Hobbs BA (Hons), MA Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of PhD Department of History of Art Faculty of Arts University of Glasgow February 2010 Abstract This thesis examines the urban topography of Berlin’s working-class districts, as seen in the art, architecture and other images produced in the city between 1924 and 1930. During the 1920s, Berlin flourished as centre of modern culture. Yet this flourishing did not exist exclusively amongst the intellectual elites that occupied the city centre and affluent western suburbs. It also extended into the proletarian districts to the north and east of the city. Within these areas existed a complex urban landscape that was rich with cultural tradition and artistic expression. This thesis seeks to redress the bias towards the centre of Berlin and its recognised cultural currents, by exploring the art and architecture found in the city’s working-class districts. The thesis adopts Henri Lefebvre’s premise that each society creates its own space in which it lives, works, and sustains its cultural identity. On this basis, working-class culture and the spaces in which it was practiced, are treated with equal weight. The thesis begins by examining how the laissez-faire economics of the German Empire (1871–1914), combined with a massive influx of rural migrants into Berlin, creating a complex industrial landscape, whose working-class inhabitants retained many pastoral traditions. The thesis moves on to study the works of a number of artists active in Berlin between 1924 and 1930, using examples of their work to examine the unique nature of the working-class districts, and the culture and traditions that took place within them. The second half of the thesis explores the working-class districts from an explicitly political perspective. The extensive house building programme that took place across Berlin throughout the twenties is explored in all its varied and conflicting political perspectives. What emerges is a picture of a growing schism between Berlin’s Social Democratic government, and Communist supporters in the working-class districts. 1929 emerges as a critical year in which political contestations of space between the two parties and their supporters reached new levels of hostility, as working-class culture clashed against Social Democratic urban policy. 2 Contents Abstract 2 Contents 3 List of figures 4 Acknowledgements 8 Author’s declaration 10 Abbreviations 11 1. Introduction 12 2. The making of an industrial giant: Berlin 1840–1914 37 3. Gustav Wunderwald and the Neue Sachlichkeit urban landscape 68 4. The rural city: working-class culture in Berlin 97 5. Social space in Otto Nagel and Hans Baluschek’s images of working-class Berlin 143 6. The politics of architecture : Berlin’s Neues Bauen housing programme 176 7. Contrasting political representations of working-class Berlin 230 8. Conclusion 285 Appendix I: Maps 296 Appendix II: Weimar Constitution, extracts 302 Bibliography 304 3 List of figures Introduction 1. Ernest Burgess, Concentric-ring model for 1920s Chicago, 1925 16 Chapter 2 2. Friedrich Kaiser, Berlin im Baufieber der Gründerjahre, c.1875 43 3. Graph: The economics of Berlin’s growth 44 4. Heinrich Zille, Drei Männer auf dem Heimweg, 1898 46 5. Hans Baluschek, Neue Häuser, 1895 47 6. Stages of development of the Borsig works on Chausseestrasse in 1837, 1847, 1867 52 7. Heinrich Zille. Arbeitspause, Abbruch im Scheunenviertel. c.1910 53 8. Development of Sedanstrasse, Schöneberg 1874–1893 55 9. Aerial photograph of the Meyers-Hof tenements in Berlin-Wedding, no date 59 10. Heinrich Lichte, Sorauer Strasse 27, Cellar dwelling, 1908 61 11. Heinrich Lichte, Rüdersdorfer Strasse 12: Attic Apartment, 1918. 62 12. Postcard showing the view from the terrace in the Schillerpark, c.1910 65 Chapter 3 13. Gustav Wunderwald, Brücke über die Ackerstrasse, 1927 70 14. Thomas Theodor Heine, Sachlichkeit!, 1928 74 15. Walter Trier, Die Neue Sachlichkeit, 1930 74 16. Gustav Wunderwald, Miethäuser in Berlin (Karolingerplatz), 1926 82 17. Gustav Wunderwald, Fabrik an der Lindower Strasse, 1927 84 18. Gustav Wunderwald, Travemünder Straße, 1927 86 19. The Luisenhaus in Gesundbrunnen, during part demolition and reconstruction, c.1907 89 20. Franz Lenk, Berliner Hinterhäuser, 1929 93 21. Gustav Wunderwald, Bahndamm, 1928 95 4 Chapter 4 22. Otto Umbehr, photomontages for Berlin: Die Sinfonie der Großstadt, 1927 99 23. Ast, Dörfchen Berlin, 1927 100 24. Sasha Stone, Four photographs from Das neue Berlin, 1929 106 25. L. Loeffler, Die Barackenstadt von Berlin, Engraving, 1872 112 26. Heinrich Zille, Whoever trusts in God and filches planks, c.1900 113 27. Willy Römer, photograph of harvest festival celebrations, no date. 115 28. Heinrich Zille, Laubenkolonie illustration, published 1930 116 29. Hans Baluschek, Sommerfest in der Laubenkolonie, 1909 118 30. Hans Baluschek, Laubenkolonie in der Großstadt, 1925 120 31. Gustav Wunderwald, Hinterhäuser im Winter, 1925 121 32. Heinrich Zille, Zirkusspiel im Hinterhof, 1925 124 33. Baluschek, Auf dem Dach (Kleiner Leute Dachgarten), 1926 126 34. Unknown photographer, tenement rooftop, 1926 128 35. Otto Nagel, Wedding-Kneipe, 1926 131 36. Gustav Wunderwald, Am Wedding (Blauband), Häuser mit Reklame, 1926 132 37. Otto Nagel. Arbeiters Ferienparadies, 1929 134 38. Unknown photographer, Nordpark "Onkel Pelle" (Vergnüngungspark), 1930 135 39. George Grosz, Funfair, 1928 136 40. Hans Baluschek, Arme Musik (Vorstadtwald), 1926 138 41. Hans Baluschek, Sommerabend, 1928 139 42. Willibald Krain, Drachensteigen, 1927 141 Chapter 5 43. Otto Nagel, Parkbank am Wedding, 1927 150 44. Otto Nagel, Feierabend, 1928 152 45. Hans Baluschek, Fabrikschluss, 1926 154 46. Otto Nagel, Weddinger Jungen, 1928 157 47. Hans Baluschek, Arbeiterjugend, 1925 158 48. Hans Baluschek, Die Lumpemsammler, 1926 159 49. Hans Baluschek, Porträt einer Säuferin, 1923 160 50. Hans Baluschek, Die Hungernden (Arbeitlose), 1925 161 51. Hans Baluschek, Der Schupo und die Tippelschickse, 1926 162 52. Hans Baluschek, Gerichtkorridor, 1927 163 53. Hans Baluschek, Aufgegriffene, 1930 164 5 Chapter 6 51. Different housing forms: Tenement, Randbebauung, Zeilenbau 179 52. Wilhelm Schulz, Artikel 151 mit 155, 1928 183 53. Unknown photographer, Jungfernheide Estate, circa 1928 189 54. Arthur Köster, Schillerpark estate, circa 1927 194 55. Sasha Stone, photograph for an article in the BIZ by Adolf Behne 197 56. Plan of the DEGEWO estate, Wedding 202 57. Author’s own photograph, Two views of the DEGEWO, Wedding, 2009 203 58. Unknown photographer, Christianiastrasse 94–98, circa 1928 205 59. Plan of the Zeppelinplatz estate 207 60. Author’s own photograph, Zeppelinplatz housing blocks, 2009 208 61. Illustration and photograph, Zeppelinplatz housing block entrance, 1920s 208 62. Author’s own photograph, Corner, Anrumer- and Ostender Strasse, 2009 210 63. Plan of the Friedrich-Ebert Estate 216 64. Unknown photographer, Friedrich-Ebert Estate, 1932 218 65. GAGFAH housing estate, Steegerstrasse, Wedding 220 66. Carl Grossberg, Berlin, Brandmauer, 1932 229 Chapter 7 67. Pages from SPD election leaflet, November 1929 243 68. Otto Nagel, Frühschicht, 1929 244 69. Hans Baluschek, Fabrik mit Werkhaltestelle, 1929 245 70. Cartoon from Vorwärts: Bürgerliche Stadtkultur, 1920 247 71. Cartoon from Vorwärts: Hausbesitzer und Sportplätze, 1929 247 72. Cartoon from Die Rote Fahne: So wird die Hauszinssteuer verwandt, 1929 248 73. Traut Hajdu, entrance to Meyers-Hof tenement block, 1929 251 74. Two photographs from BIZ article Erntefest in der Mietskaserne 253 75. Illustration, Family living in a hut on the Blumenthal heathland, Berlin 254 76. “Notwohnung im Taubenschlag für eine dreiköpfige Familie,” 1926 254 77. Pages from SPD election leaflet, 1929 257 78. Pages from SPD election leaflet, 1929 259 79. Front page of an edition of the Die neue Stadt residential newsletter 261 80. Erwin Barth. Plan for the Volkspark Rehberge, 1929 264 81. Unknown photographer, The Rehberge, before 1910 265 82. Erwin Barth, Plan and artistic impressions of the Volkspark Rehberge, c.1926 266 6 83. Pages from SPD election leaflet, 1929 267 84. Pages from SPD election leaflet, 1929 269 85. Anonymous worker’s drawing, Baden Verboten, 1929 270 86. Unknown photographer, The Schmales Handtuch, Wedding, before 1927 271 87. Unknown photographer, The Schmales Handtuch, Wedding, after 1927 271 88. Otto Roth, Alte Laubenkolonie, Rehberge, Wedding, c.1924 273 89. Unknown photographer, Dauerkolonie Rehberge, Wedding. 1929 273 90. Press photograph, Die Kampfdemonstration im Lustgarten, 1929 279 91. Otto Griebel, Die Internationale, 1929–1930 280 Conclusion 92. Sasha Stone, Old and new housing in Berlin, 1929 288 93. Heinrich Zille, Berlin