Imagine stepping back in time to 1958. Forstfeld in Kassel emerges as its own distinct district. Before that, it was simply part of Waldau.
Forstfeld’s story isn’t ancient but it is compelling. It shows how Kassel grew and changed. Its very existence speaks of expansion.
The seeds of Forstfeld were sown in 1916. Arbeiterwohnungen arose on Steinigkstrasse, then called General-Emmich-Strasse. These homes were for workers at the Munitionsfabrik on Lilienthalstrasse.
Architect Paul Schmitthenner envisioned a “Gartenstadt Forstfeld bei Cassel.” It would mirror the garden city of Staaken in Berlin. World War I altered these plans.
In the west of Ochshausen, a settlement arose. Forty determined builders constructed their houses largely by themselves. In 1932, the Erlenfeldsiedlung emerged between Wahlebach and Eibenweg. People built their own homes in a similar fashion.
After the Autobahn’s construction in 1936, the Ochshausen area west of it became part of Kassel. Houses in Erlenfeldsiedlung were incorporated too. 1934 marked the start of the Lindenbergsiedlung. In 1936, the Fieseler-Siedlung was built for Gerhard-Fieseler-Flugzeugwerke workers. After 1945, it became known as Forstfeld-Siedlung.
From 1938, north of Ochshäuser Strasse, the “Städtische Siedlung” arose. It provided 462 “Volkswohnungen” for “minderbemittelte Volksgenossen”. Street names referenced former African colonies. Locals nicknamed this area “Afrika-Siedlung” or “Die Afrika”.
In 1958, 56 settler units in the “Lindenberg II” refugee settlement were ready on Lindenberg near the Autobahn.
During the early 1940s, Junkers Flugzeug- und Motorenwerke had a camp. It was located on Forstbachweg. It housed workers and a forced labor camp. The camp stood on the grounds of today’s Grundschule and church.
After the war, UNESCO used the company housing for displaced persons. Around 1,000 Latvians and Estonians were gathered. The aim was to prepare them for return or emigration. Locals called it “Lettenlager”. The camp later became apartments. These were demolished in the early 1970s. The Gemeinnützigen Wohnungsbaugesellschaft Kassel built 421 apartments here. This is today’s Heinrich-Steul-Siedlung.
The area between Forstbachweg, Eibenweg, the Autobahn and Waldkappeler Bahn became part of Forstfeld in 1997. A public vote decided this. Before that, it belonged to Bettenhausen.
Forstfeld covers 1.89 square kilometers. Over 7,000 people call it home.
Forstfeld’s political voice is strong. A local council addresses the district’s needs. It has been this way since 1958. Since 1981, a directly elected local advisory board of nine members has been in place.
Consider Forstfeld. It is more than just a district. It embodies Kassel’s evolution. Its housing reflects social changes and architectural trends. Its history is a microcosm of Kassel’s larger story.