“Disenfranchised. Excluded. Murdered.” That’s what this Stolperschwelle tells about Die Frauen der Herbertstraße. This memorial remembers women of Herbertstraße and elsewhere. It honors those who suffered injustice and violence.
Herbertstraße lies in St. Pauli near the Reeperbahn. Since the 19th century, this street has been known for prostitution. It’s a place with a long and complex history.
Let’s delve into the story of Die Frauen der Herbertstraße. The street’s name came from a naming concept. All streets in the area got male first names alphabetically. When they arrived at “H” they chose Herbertstraße. It wasn’t named after a famous Herbert.
Around 1900, Herbertstraße became a residential area. Gates were added at both ends. This was meant to control the area better. Only brothels were allowed here.
In 1933, screens went up at both ends of the street. These screens were remnants of the Nazi era. The Nazis forbade prostitution but couldn’t fully enforce it on St. Pauli. The Kriegsmarine intervened. They compromised by limiting the red-light district to Herbertstraße.
Later posters appeared, barring women and minors. Legally, this was questionable. The Herbertstraße is a public road that anyone can enter. However, women who venture in are often met with hostility. They face swearwords and sometimes worse.
The Herbertstraße is managed exclusively by women. They rent rooms to prostitutes. The prostitutes are independent businesswomen. They sit in windows displaying themselves to male passersby.
The women working here don’t want curious female gazes. They protect their space from other women’s eyes. This creates a safer environment for them.
In 2010, an event organizer tried to include Herbertstraße in tours for women. The “Historical Harlot Tour” never happened. The organizer canceled it. Rumors say pimps ensured that Herbertstraße remained a taboo zone for women. They feared it would hurt business.
Even today, most women avoid Herbertstraße. The street remains a unique and controversial part of Hamburg.
Recently, one of the barriers at Herbertstraße was removed. It’s now in the Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte. This barrier is a relic from the 1930s. It represents a time when women in prostitution faced persecution.
The Herbertstraße continues to evolve. It reflects the complex relationship between Hamburg, sex work, and society. This Stolperschwelle stands as a reminder. It urges us to remember the women of Herbertstraße. It calls us to acknowledge their struggles and their resilience.