Imagine this square as the starting point of change. This is Strausberger Platz in Berlin. It marks the border between Friedrichshain and Mitte. Two major streets meet here. These are Karl-Marx-Allee and Lichtenberger Straße.
Strausberger Platz has a rich history. In the Middle Ages, executions took place nearby. Hans Kohlhase was executed here in 1540. Heinrich von Kleist immortalized him in “Michael Kohlhaas”.
By the 1730s, the square became part of Berlin. In the 19th century, it was a street crossing. It sat about 50 meters east of where we stand now.
World War II devastated this area. After the war, the DDR began building socialist housing here. This was done in the style of Socialist Classicism. Hermann Henselmann led a team that designed Strausberger Platz from 1952 to 1955.
This square became a focal point for protests. On June 16, 1953, workers here began strikes. They protested increased work quotas. This sparked the East German uprising of 1953.
Look around you. The buildings here reflect socialist ideals. They are grand and imposing. They exemplify the architecture of Karl-Marx-Allee. These buildings mostly have eight floors. The ground floors house shops and businesses.
The square’s entrances are designed like gates. To the north and south on Lichtenberger Straße, corner buildings reach close to the street. Open arcades guide pedestrians through them. At the eastern and western entrances, taller buildings stand out. These are the ten-story buildings to the east. And the fourteen-story high-rises to the west.
These high-rises are Haus des Kindes and Haus Berlin. Unlike other buildings on Karl-Marx-Allee, they were pre-fabricated.
Haus des Kindes once housed a puppet theater. It also had a kindergarten and a children’s store. On the top floor, there was a children’s café. A sign read: “Adults only with children.” The stair railings featured fairy-tale motifs.
Haus Berlin held restaurants, cafés, and a bar. These gate buildings bear inscriptions. Haus des Kindes quotes Goethe’s Faust II. Haus Berlin quotes Bertolt Brecht.
In the center of the roundabout is a fountain. It’s called “Schwebender Ring” or “Floating Ring”. A ring of water fountains surrounds a structure with copper plates. The central fountain reaches 18 meters high. Smaller fountains surround it. The mist and metal plates create the illusion of a floating ring. The fountain is currently being renovated. It is expected to be completed in 2026.
In 1983, a Karl Marx bust was placed on the square. It connects to the Karl-Marx-Allee. The bronze bust stands on a white concrete base.
Strausberger Platz embodies East Berlin’s history. It is a testament to socialist architecture. The square stands as a reminder of protests and uprisings. It also symbolizes the city’s reconstruction after the war.