Gazing upon the seemingly ordinary streets of Staaken, one might never suspect the extraordinary history hidden within this western Berlin locality. Staaken, a name derived from the Middle Low German word for “stakes,” first appeared in records in 1273. It began as a modest settlement around 1200, shaped by the German eastward migration. For centuries, Staaken remained tied to Spandau, first under the control of the Benedictine nunnery, then the city administration after the Reformation. The Greater Berlin Act of 1920 brought Staaken into the fold of Berlin, but its tranquil existence was soon interrupted. The outbreak of World War I saw the Luftschiffbau Zeppelin company establish a presence in Staaken. Massive zeppelin airships and the “giant” Riesenflugzeug bombers were produced within its factories. These were some of the largest aircraft of their time. Imagine the colossal structures rising above the landscape, a testament to German engineering.
After the war and the restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles, aircraft production ceased. The area transformed into an airfield. Zeppelins once again graced the skies, carrying passengers to Friedrichshafen and even London. However, Tempelhof Airport eventually eclipsed Staaken’s aviation prominence. The former zeppelin hangars found new life as the Staaken Studios. Here, scenes for iconic films like Fritz Lang’s Metropolis were brought to life. Can you picture the futuristic sets and bustling film crews transforming these industrial spaces into cinematic worlds? In 1929, the estate was sold to the city of Berlin, while parts of the airfield continued to serve the Deutsche Luft Hansa. A darker chapter unfolded during World War II, when the Demag company used forced labor from the Falkenhagen concentration camp to produce Panther tanks in nearby Albrechtshof.
The aftermath of World War II brought a new set of challenges. Staaken became a divided community. A territorial exchange between the British and Soviet Allies in 1945 split Staaken. The western portion, including the airfield, became an exclave of East Berlin, geographically west but politically east. The eastern part remained with West Berlin. This division created a confusing and often frustrating situation for residents. Despite being geographically western, West Staaken residents were under East Berlin’s control. They were eventually incorporated into Falkensee in 1961. The Berlin Wall, a stark symbol of the Cold War, further divided the community from 1961 until its fall in 1989. Only one crossing point, on Heerstraße, allowed passage between the two halves.
The story of Staaken isn’t just about division. It’s also about resilience and reunification. On October 3, 1990, the two halves of Staaken were finally rejoined within the borough of Spandau. The once-divided community could finally heal and rebuild. Today, Staaken showcases a diverse mix of architectural styles. From the historic village center with its charming Alt-Staaken church to the planned Gartenstadt Staaken, a garden city designed by Paul Schmitthenner, and the modern housing estates of Neu-Staaken. Staaken is a testament to its complex history, a story etched into its streets and buildings.