Schmargendorf (German: [ˈʃmaʁɡn̩ˌdɔʁf] ) is a south-western locality (Ortsteil) of Berlin in the district (Bezirk) of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf. Until 2001 it was part of the former district of Wilmersdorf.

Schmargendorf
Town hall
Town hall
Location of Schmargendorf in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf and Berlin
Schmargendorf is located in Germany
Schmargendorf
Schmargendorf
Schmargendorf is located in Berlin
Schmargendorf
Schmargendorf
Coordinates: 52°28′38″N 13°17′17″E / 52.47722°N 13.28806°E / 52.47722; 13.28806
CountryGermany
StateBerlin
CityBerlin
BoroughCharlottenburg-Wilmersdorf
Founded1354
Area
 • Total3.59 km2 (1.39 sq mi)
Elevation
45 m (148 ft)
Population
 (2023-12-31)[1]
 • Total24,133
 • Density6,700/km2 (17,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
14193, 14199
Vehicle registrationB

Geography

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Schmargendorf borders with the localities of Grunewald (with Grunewald Forest) in the west, Halensee in the north, Wilmersdorf in the north and east, as well as Dahlem (this one in Steglitz-Zehlendorf borough) in the south. The northeastern border with Berlin's inner city is marked by the Ringbahn line of the Berlin S-Bahn and the Stadtring motorway.

History

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Village church

The village in the Margraviate of Brandenburg was first mentioned as des or ’s Margreven Dorp (literally English: the Margrave's Village) in 1354, contracted to Low German Smargendorp and later adapted to High German standard as Schmargendorf.[2] It was probably established about 1220 by German settlers in the course of the Ostsiedlung under the co-ruling Ascanian Margraves John I and Otto III of Brandenburg, after the former Slavic territories had been conquered by their great-grandfather Albert the Bear.

During the growth of the City of Berlin after the 1871 unification of Germany, many peasants profited by the real estate speculation, when Schmargendorf on the eastern rim of the Grunewald forest became a popular residential area. In 1899 the former village was separated from neighboring Wilmersdorf and received municipal rights within the Brandenburgian Landkreis Teltow, whereafter the residents had the lavish Neo-Gothic town hall erected in 1902. On 1 October 1920 Schmargendorf was incorporated into Berlin by the "Greater Berlin Act".[3]

During the Battle of Berlin in 1945, Schmargendorf became a battleground. Among the force trying to resist there the advancing Soviets were the film producer Ewald von Demandowsky and his lover, the future film star Hildegard Knef, dressed as a soldier[4]

Since 1954 Schmargendorf houses the Berlinisches Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster, formerly located in Berlin Mitte.

Notable residents

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Transport

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Stadtring and Wilmersdorf power station

At its northern rim Schmargendorf is served by the Ringbahn urban rail stations of Heidelberger Platz (S-Bahn lines : S4 (Ringbahn) + S46; U-Bahn line U3) and Hohenzollerndamm (S-Bahn line S4).

By car it can be reached on the Stadtring motorway (BAB 100), at the Hohenzollerndamm exit (No. 13), and via the Schmargendorf junction (No. 14, former BAB 104) at the exit Mecklenburgische Straße.

 
Map of the quarter

References

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  1. ^ "Einwohnerinnen und Einwohner im Land Berlin am 31. Dezember 2023". Amt für Statistik Berlin-Brandenburg. February 2024.
  2. ^ One can find a comparable name construction with an abbreviated ’s with 's-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands, being one of the areas from where many then settlers in Brandenburg originated.
  3. ^ (in German) Infos on Schmargendorf's page on Berliner website
  4. ^ Gurke, Thomas M. "Hildergard Knef". Impressum. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
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  Media related to Schmargendorf at Wikimedia Commons