Kollwitz lived in the old Berlin district called "Prenzlauer Berg", formerly known as the "Feldmark"
at the corner of Knaackstrasse and Weissenburger Strasse (later Kollwitzstrasse) until her house was
destroyed by Allied bombs in 1943. On the same night, the entire Weissenburger/Belforter/
Strassburger/Metzer roads area went up in flames from the attack. After 1945, the Russian secret
service kept one of its huge detention facility on the Prenzlauer Avenue, which from the start
rounded up not simply ringleaders and "war criminals", but anyone they regarded as uttering
"anti-soviet expressions". These detention centers developed quickly as part of the repressive Soviet
system. The detention cellar in the Prenzlauer avenue was taken over by the Ministry for public
security of the GDR in 1950 and remained in use until at least 1956.
at the corner of Knaackstrasse and Weissenburger Strasse (later Kollwitzstrasse) until her house was
destroyed by Allied bombs in 1943. On the same night, the entire Weissenburger/Belforter/
Strassburger/Metzer roads area went up in flames from the attack. After 1945, the Russian secret
service kept one of its huge detention facility on the Prenzlauer Avenue, which from the start
rounded up not simply ringleaders and "war criminals", but anyone they regarded as uttering
"anti-soviet expressions". These detention centers developed quickly as part of the repressive Soviet
system. The detention cellar in the Prenzlauer avenue was taken over by the Ministry for public
security of the GDR in 1950 and remained in use until at least 1956.
| Weissenburger Strasse c.1900 and the same bombed out neighborhood looking at the Berlin Wall |
Kollwitz was a native of East Prussia, a land that is no more. Few locations saw as much human
suffering in wartime as the inhabitants of East Prussia, particularly the women and children. Greatly
damaged in World War One after being severed by the victorious Allies from its cultural and ethnic
roots in greater Germany, many citizens relocated in the post war years. For those who stayed in
their homeland, World War Two brought horrendous violence and cruelty from the invading Red
Army, including the biggest mass rape in history. Rape by Kathe Kollwitz, below
suffering in wartime as the inhabitants of East Prussia, particularly the women and children. Greatly
damaged in World War One after being severed by the victorious Allies from its cultural and ethnic
roots in greater Germany, many citizens relocated in the post war years. For those who stayed in
their homeland, World War Two brought horrendous violence and cruelty from the invading Red
Army, including the biggest mass rape in history. Rape by Kathe Kollwitz, below
Käthe Schmidt knew heartache and agony. She was born in
Königsberg, East Prussia, the daughter of a well to do mason.
She attended The Berlin School of Art in 1884 and later studied
in Munich. After her marriage to Dr. Karl Kollwitz in 1891, the
couple settled in Berlin, living in a poor section of the city where
her husband set up his practise, and they had two sons.
Königsberg, East Prussia, the daughter of a well to do mason.
She attended The Berlin School of Art in 1884 and later studied
in Munich. After her marriage to Dr. Karl Kollwitz in 1891, the
couple settled in Berlin, living in a poor section of the city where
her husband set up his practise, and they had two sons.
| Käthe Kollwitz |
Soon after the start of the First World War, her son, Peter joined the German
Army. He was killed on October 22, 1914 at Diksmuide on the Western Front.
During the Second World War, her grandson was killed while fighting for the
German Army on the Eastern Front. Käthe Kollwitz lived and worked for more
than 50 years in Berlin. On her flight from Allied bomb attacks, which destroyed
her home and most of her life's work in 1943, she was invited by Prince Ernst
Heinrich of Saxony to Moritzburg, a short distance from Dresden, which was also
soon levelled in another series of devastating fire bombings.
Army. He was killed on October 22, 1914 at Diksmuide on the Western Front.
During the Second World War, her grandson was killed while fighting for the
German Army on the Eastern Front. Käthe Kollwitz lived and worked for more
than 50 years in Berlin. On her flight from Allied bomb attacks, which destroyed
her home and most of her life's work in 1943, she was invited by Prince Ernst
Heinrich of Saxony to Moritzburg, a short distance from Dresden, which was also
soon levelled in another series of devastating fire bombings.
Even more of her work, which was in place in the city, was lost. She died shortly before the end of
Second World War on April 22, 1945.
Second World War on April 22, 1945.
