Krankenhaus Neukölln

Opened in 1909 amidst waving cornfields, Krankenhaus Neukölln has witnessed over a century of Berlin’s history. Originally called Rixdorfer Krankenhaus, it started with just 450 beds and four departments: Surgery, Internal Medicine, Pathology, and Röntgen. Imagine the quiet fields surrounding the hospital, a stark contrast to the bustling urban landscape that surrounds it today. The city of Rixdorf, later renamed Neukölln in 1920, grew rapidly. This necessitated the hospital’s expansion to 750 beds between 1911 and 1913. A bakery and even a pig farm were added to the grounds, ensuring self-sufficiency. In a landmark moment, Krankenhaus Neukölln employed its first female physician, Dr. Elfriede Kuhr, in 1914. Her contract, however, came with a caveat: her employment would last only until the male doctors returned from the war. The hospital continued to evolve, reaching 950 beds and adding Ear, Nose, and Throat and Ophthalmology departments between 1919 and 1932. The Nazi regime’s rise brought dark times. The “Aryan paragraph” led to the dismissal of nearly half the medical staff, including the hospital’s leadership. Despite bomb damage during the war, thankfully, there were no fatalities at Krankenhaus Neukölln. Post-war, the hospital was first occupied by Russian, then American soldiers. Even the nearby Fritz-Karsen-Schule was used to house patients, and a makeshift hospital was set up on Onkel-Bräsig-Straße. By February 1946, the soldiers had left, and Krankenhaus Neukölln resumed operations. The following decades saw significant expansion and specialization. Three independent hospitals—Britz, Mariendorfer Weg, and Neukölln—merged into a single organizational unit. New departments like Urology, Hematology, Emergency Medicine, and Cardiac Surgery were added. In a groundbreaking feat, Professor Bücherl performed Europe’s first lung transplant here in 1967. After 15 years of construction, a state-of-the-art building designed by architect Professor Josef Kleihues opened in 1986. This marked a new chapter for Krankenhaus Neukölln, cementing its place as one of Berlin’s most modern hospitals. Today, as part of the Vivantes network, Krankenhaus Neukölln boasts over 1,300 beds and more than 20 departments. It stands as a testament to resilience, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to patient care.