CPPD | Podcast Episode 50 „ERINNERUNGSFUTUR“: Berlin street names in the context of public memory. Nicole Schweiß in conversation with participants in the exhibition project “umbenennen?!”

This episode of the CPPD podcast Erinnerungsfutur (Memory Future) examines the topic of naming and renaming streets in Berlin, which is of great historical and social significance.
The focus is on the exhibition project ‘umbenennen?!’ (rename?!), initiated by the Active Museum of Fascism and Resistance in collaboration with twelve regional and district museums in Berlin. Under the direction of Nora Hogrefe, among others, the project examines the complex histories behind the city’s street names, from colonial and National Socialist to post-migrant references.
A central component of the project is the international conference on the role of street names and naming practices in the context of public memory, which is also reviewed in the episode.

These experts have spoken:
Nora Hogrefe explains the project’s goals and its significance for Berlin’s culture of remembrance.

Heike Hartmann, director of the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf Museum, gives an overview of the international conferences organised as part of the project and shares key insights from the discussions.

Christina Haritas, postdoctoral researcher at Freie Universität Berlin, analyses the role of the media in reporting on renaming and the associated social negotiation processes.

Leon Biela, doctoral candidate at the University of Freiburg, highlights the historical continuity of renaming using the example of Bonte-Kai in Wilhelmshaven.

Pegah Byroum-Wand, freelance literary and cultural scholar, questions the power and resource dynamics in renaming processes.

Tülay Güneş, architect and urban researcher, addresses the post-migrant perspective in urban planning and emphasises the importance of migrant narratives for an inclusive culture of remembrance.

This episode offers deep insight into the complex stories and debates surrounding street names and encourages reflection on historical responsibility and the challenges of a pluralistic society.

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In ERINNERUNGSFUTUR, scientists, artists, journalists and activists report on their work and perspectives on cultures of remembrance in Germany and Europe. The series is part of the DialoguePerspectives e.V. podcast.

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Speakers: Nicole Schweiß, Nora Hogrefe, Heike Hartmann, Christina Haritas, Leon Biela, Pegah Byroum-Wand, Tülay Güneş; Editorial team: Hannah Blumas, Nihal Çalışır; Audio-Edit: Gal Yaron Mayersohn; Film Glitch by Snowflake ©2017 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (3.0) license; Illustration: Rosa Viktoria Ahlers; Kurator*innen: Jo Frank, Johanna Korneli, Max Czollek | © 2025 DialoguePerspectives e.V. | http://www.cppdnetwork.com