Mannheim exchanges historically burdened street names

Colonialism - Mannheim exchanges historically burdened street names

The Mannheimer City Council has chosen new names for four historically contentious streets. According to experts, these were previously named after colonialists and a supporter of National Socialism. Starting from January 1, 2025, these streets will bear the names of the Asian traveler Marco Polo, the world traveler Ida Pfeiffer, the meteorologist and geophysicist Georg Balthasar Neumayer, and the writer Isabelle Eberhardt.

Citizens had the opportunity to vote on over 18 names in March. They selected these four favorites. The new street names will be valid after a review period, a city spokesperson announced on Thursday.

The Leibniz Institute for European History criticized these four previous street names in a report as early as 2020. "Gustav Nachtigal, Theodor Leutwein, and Adolf Lüderitz are representatives of a colonial rule and exploitation system based on racism and the belief in the inferiority of non-European societies," the report commissioned by the city states. "Even in the case of Sven Hedin, an open party member and supporter of the National Socialist racial and power ideology, a street name was bestowed, and this was in 1985, a time when one could have known about his involvement in National Socialism."

For the "Mannheimer Culture of Diversity"

The experts recommended a change of street names and also referred to Mannheim's "2030 Vision" of the city. In this vision, there is talk of a specific "Mannheimer Culture of Diversity" as a driver of social coexistence, the consultants wrote. "With this vision of tolerance and plurality, it is indeed only difficult to reconcile historically, those personalities who (...) stand for racism, violence, annexation, and colonialism, continue to be honored."

The council decided in favor of the renaming in February 2022 with a majority vote. In the initial phase of public participation, there were reportedly 235 name suggestions. These were narrowed down to 18 based on their feasibility.

The names should also fall under the motto of the affected district "Researchers and Persons of Transcultural Exchange".

1. The Leibniz Institute for European History highlighted the issue of historically contentious street names in Mannheim, such as those honoring figures like Gustav Nachtigal, Theodor Leutwein, and Adolf Lüderitz, who were associated with colonialism and racism.
2. The new street names chosen by the Mannheimer City Council aim to align with Baden-Württemberg's focus on diversity and inclusion, as the city strives towards its 2030 Vision of fostering a "Mannheimer Culture of Diversity."
3. In contrast to the previous street names, which were tied to figures like Sven Hedin, a supporter of National Socialism, the new names will commemorate individuals like Marco Polo, a famous Asian traveler, and Isabelle Eberhardt, a writer.
4. As a result of the renaming process, some streets in Mannheim will now bear names that reflect the city's commitment to cultural exchange, diversity, and the appreciation of figures like Ida Pfeiffer, a world traveler, and Georg Balthasar Neumayer, a meteorologist and geophysicist.

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