Do you know, where you are? This is the Ku’damm of Kreuzberg – Bergmannstraße!”
“Yes, Bergmannstraße – it used to be the street of the second-hand dealers. And today? One coffeeshop next to the other – because they can pay more rent. The old owners were just dismissed – they cried, wenn they had to leave.”

Some sit and experience their latte macchiato, are happy and sit in another exciting coffeshop next time. One, that is currently reconverted, maybe they will sit there. And leave Bergmannstraße towards their street. And some miss the life and feel betrayed of their hope for a street, their street, that used to be versatile, self-determined and honest and that could have been even better. And that although here the first green members of parliaments were elected for the senat of Berlin as well for the German Bundestag.

“Here at this corner were the first streetfights with the Nazis. 1929 Bergmann- Ecke Nostitzstraße – it was here.” History was always present in this street. And it was always the people with their own history and stories. Therefore these photographs. However this street will change – it will remain fascinating. The street of the second-hand dealers: who comes here and looks for something, will find it. Who comes here and does not look for anything, will also find something.

Right on – Bergmannstraße!

Stefan Maria Rother in the Introduction