Stolen then returned. That’s the story of the Alfred Döblin Plaque. Right here on Kaiserdamm 28. It commemorates a significant figure. A writer a playwright an essayist. Alfred Döblin himself.
This porcelain plaque a product of the Royal Porcelain Manufactory. It was unveiled on May 13 2003. It marked a place of great significance. Döblin lived here from 1930 to 1933. A period of immense upheaval in Germany.
The plaque didn’t stay put for long. In March 2005 thieves stole it. Leaving behind an empty space. A void where a piece of history had been. But the story doesn’t end there.
A replacement was created. It’s not quite the same. There are subtle differences. This new plaque hangs inside the building. Protected from future thefts. A copy now adorns the exterior. A testament to the resilience of memory.
Döblin’s life was one of exile. He fled Germany the day after the Reichstag fire. His works including the famous Berlin Alexanderplatz were burned by the Nazis. He found refuge in France then the USA.
He eventually returned to Germany in 1945. He worked for the French military government. Sadly he felt alienated in his homeland. He left again just a few years later.
His plaque here on Kaiserdamm 28. A small yet powerful reminder. A testament to a life lived on the edges. A man who documented the chaotic heart of Berlin. A man who himself became a refugee from that same city. A man who is now remembered. Not just through his words but through this plaque. This simple porcelain tribute. This poignant marker of a turbulent life.