Moabit: Migration into a Berlin Community

Settled in the 17th century by Huguenots fleeing persecution in France, Moabit became home to a large Berlin Jewish community in the 19th and early 20th century, corresponding with rapid industrialization. This lecture will explore Moabit’s transitions over four hundred years with a focus on the district’s role in housing minorities and migrants. It will consider to what extent Huguenot, Jewish, Turkish and other minority and migrant groups became integrated in Prussian or German society and conclude with an analysis of the recent influx of Syrian refugees articulating how this might affect municipal politics and priorities.