At the Edge of the Wall Public and Private Spheres in Divided Berlin

Located in the geographical center of Berlin, the neighboring boroughs of Friedrichschain and Kreuzberg shared a history and identity until their fortunes diverged dramatically following the construction of the Berlin Wall, which placed them within opposing political systems. This revealing account of the two towns during and after the Cold War takes a microhistorical approach to illuminate the broader historical trajectories of East and West Berlin. Merged into a single borough in 2001, they now comprise a neighborhood that bears the traces of these complex histories and serves as an illuminating case study of gentrification, immigration, and the other social processes that continue to reshape Berlin.