Notable people from Neukölln

This is a list of notable people associated with Neukölln, a quarter of Berlin, Germany. It includes people who were born in Neukölln, as well as those who lived, worked, or were otherwise closely associated with the locality throughout its history. Notable figures include architectural sculptor Lee Lawrie, actor Horst Buchholz, jurist Jutta Limbach, philosopher Susan Neiman, footballer Antonio Rüdiger, and artist Lena Braun. The list distinguishes between natives, residents, and other significant associates.

Notable people

Many of Rixdorf's and Neukölln's natives became world-renowned in their respective professions, for example architectural sculptor Lee Lawrie, actor Horst Buchholz, president of Germany's Supreme Court Jutta Limbach, or Real Madrid's centre-back Antonio Rüdiger. Other important people have lived or settled in Rixdorf and Neukölln, for example Bible critic Bruno Bauer, philosopher Susan Neiman, artist Lena Braun, or Wilhelm Voigt, the infamous Captain of Köpenick.

List of notable natives and current or former residents or associates of Rixdorf, Neukölln and Berlin-Neukölln Name Profession Status Born Died Notes Werberg, Hermann von other associated 1324[taq] 1371 Knights Hospitaller commander, governor of Brandenburg, co-founder of Richardsdorf; a.k.a. Hermann von Werberge Sasar, Dietrich von other associated 1360[taq] 1360[tpq] commander of Tempelhof's Knights Hospitaller, co-founder of Richardsdorf Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg other associated 1620-02-16 1688-04-29 nobility, general; built a public garden in the forest Hasenheide Frederick William I of Prussia other associated 1688-08-14 1740-05-31 nobility, king of Prussia; patron of the Moravian refugees in Böhmisch-Rixdorf Liberda, Johann other associated 1700-09-05 1742-08-09 theologian, immigrant leader, Bohemian-Lutheran priest Bewert, Johann Wolfgang industrialist native 1700[taq] 1721 brewer, distributor, proprietor of Rixdorf's schultheiß court Hertzberg, Ewald Friedrich von politician associated 1725-09-02 1795-05-22 statesman, proprietor of Rixdorf's schultheiß court (since 1760) Jahn, Johann Friedrich Ludwig Christoph other associated 1778-08-11 1852-10-15 gymnastics educator, publicist, politician, nationalist Anti-Napoleonic liberationist, founder of the German gymnastics movement; built Germany's first public outdoor gymnasium in Neukölln's Hasenheide; a.k.a. Turnvater Jahn Charles, Prince of Prussia other associated 1801-06-29 1883-01-21 nobility, general; built a public garden in the forest Hasenheide Bauer, Bruno scientist resident 1809-09-06 1882-04-13 theologian, historian, philosopher, Bible critic Müller, Eduard politician associated 1818-11-15 1895-01-05 priest, state representative; initiated the foundation of Rixdorf's St. Edward parish Pannier, Rudolf jurist associated 1821-08-31 1897-12-12 president of the Landgericht Berlin (state court); initiated the establishment of Rixdorf's municipal court Wrede, Wilhelm August Julius industrialist resident 1822-01-23 1895-12-28 liquor factory owner, banker; built Neukölln's Juliusburg estate Prince Handjery, Nicolaus politician associated 1836-12-18 1900-12-07 nobility, jurist, county administrator of the Kreis Teltow including Rixdorf (1870–85) Körner, Franz Wilhelm Theodor industrialist native 1838-03-01 1911-06-02 mining industrialist; eponymous owner of the gravel quarry, which became the Körnerpark Kranold, Viktor Ferdinand von other associated 1838-09-19 1922-09-22 railroad executive, KED Berlin president; built Hermannstraße station Jonas, Ernst Wilhelm Karl Ehrenfried other native 1842-09-01 1914-07-24 theologian, Protestant priest at Rixdorf's Church of Mary Magdalene, founder of Rixdorf's first Froebelian kindergarten Voigt, Friedrich Wilhelm other resident 1849-02-13 1922-01-03 con man, impostor, shoemaker; a.k.a. Der Hauptmann von Köpenick (The Captain of Köpenick) Lisco, Hermann jurist resident 1850-01-30 1923-11-07 Rixdorf district judge (1879–83), government official Ziegra, Hugo industrialist resident 1852-03-25 1926-12-28 director of the Kindl brewery (Rollberg), city councilor (until 1919), city elder (1924) Moras, Walter artist native 1856-01-20 1925-03-06 painter Menken, August Aloysius Johannes architect associated 1858-06-23 1903-09-18 built Neukölln's St. John's Basilica Arons, Leo scientist resident 1860-02-15 1919-10-10 physicist, inventor, politician Geyger, Ernst Moritz artist native 1861-11-08 1941-12-29 sculptor, medalist, painter, etcher Möhring, Bruno architect associated 1863-12-11 1929-03-25 urban planner; designed several buildings in Berlin and Neukölln Fischer, Emil other resident 1865 1932 teacher, founder of the Neukölln Museum (1897) Poppe, Oskar industrialist resident 1866-07-09 1918-08-08 chemist, chemical factory manager Agahd, Konrad Rudolf Friedrich other resident 1867-03-01 1926-11-18 pedagogue, author, journalist Jogiches, Leo politician resident 1867-07-17 1919-03-10 Marxist revolutionary, key member of the Spartacus League, KPD co-founder; born Leon Jogiches; a.k.a. Jan Tyszka Rungius, Carl artist native 1869-08-18 1959-10-21 painter Roß, Heinrich industrialist resident 1870-08-13 1957-08-03 postcard manufacturer, publisher, first chairman of the Israelitischer Brüder-Verein Neukölln (1922–34); a.k.a. Heinrich Ross Luxemburg, Rosa other resident 1871-03-05 1919-01-15 Marxist revolutionary and theorist; found refuge in Neukölln with Karl Liebknecht before their execution, probably in the Weisestraße; born Rozalia Luksenburg Liebknecht, Karl Paul August Friedrich politician resident 1871-08-13 1919-01-15 Socialist revolutionary; found refuge in Neukölln with Rosa Luxemburg before their execution, probably in the Weisestraße Silberstein, Raphael politician associated 1873-03-19 1926-08-23 Berlin city councilor (1899–1918); motivated the construction of the Stadtbad Neukölln Franke, Otto politician native 1877-09-15 1953-12-12 unionist, politician, peace activist Lawrie, Lee Oscar artist native 1877-10-16 1963-01-23 architectural sculptor; creator of Atlas; born Max Leo Hugo Belling Barth, Emil politician resident 1879-04-23 1941-07-17 plumber, author, leading November revolutionary, member of the Council of the People's Deputies Wittbrodt, Wilhelm other resident 1879-11-08 1961-05-12 reform pedagogue, politician Bielicke, Oskar Willy Friedrich industrialist resident 1881-09-25 1945-09-23 optics entrepreneur; a.k.a. William Friedrich Bielicke Schultzenstein, Karl Julius Siegfried jurist native 1881-12-15 1951-11-07 district and regional judge, public official, author Richter, Karl Franz scientist resident 1882-08-02 1971-08-01 teacher, classical philologian, Pauly–Wissowa co-author Treffer, Joseph politician resident 1883-05-20 1963-02-08 editor, unionist, communal politician Schröder, Karl Bernhard Fritz politician resident 1884-11-13 1950-04-06 Communist functionary, author, editor, co-founder of the Rote Kämpfer, director of Neukölln's folk high school (1945–49) Görner, Karl Theodor industrialist resident 1884-12-10 1971-08-07 printing company owner, humanitarian, Righteous Among the Nations; aided over 100 German Jews, of which 22 survived, i.a. Inge Deutschkron, during the Shoah with his daughter Hanni Nörper Grylewicz, Anton politician native 1885-01-08 1971-08-02 metalworker, carpenter, Trotskyist, leading November revolutionary, Spartacist insurgent, member of the Reichstag (1924, KPD) and the Landtag of Prussia (1924–28), post-war Social Democrat Nathan, Helene other resident 1885-08-23 1940-10-23 librarian, director of Neukölln's borough library Karsen, Fritz other resident 1885-11-11 1951-08-25 pedagogue, school reformer (comprehensive schooling, second-chance college) Werkmeister, Lotte artist native 1885-12-26 1970-07-15 chanson singer, Kabarett performer, actor Frederik, Lothar Knud artist native 1886-11-09 1957-02-12 screenwriter, film critic; born Friedrich Paul Lothar Fredrik Glaeser-Wilken, Lisbeth artist resident 1887-04-01 1977-04-11 actor, teacher; born Lisbeth Wirtson Rosebery d'Arguto, Martin artist resident 1890-12-24 1942-10 (approx.) composer, industrial folk musician, conductor, choir director, vocal pedagogue, voice trainer; born Martin Rozenberg; a.k.a. Mosche Rosenberg Zobeltitz, Gerda von other native 1891-06-09 1963-03-29 tailor; one of Germany's first recognized transvestites; born Georg Ernst Hans von Zobeltitz Seiler, Karl Robert artist native 1891-12-06 1971 painter, illustrator, professor Sorge, Reinhard artist native 1892-01-29 1916-07-20 dramatist, poet Sander, Erwin other native 1892-03-05 1962-12-07 Berlin police major, military officer, Wehrmacht general Piechowski, Paul other resident 1892-06-30 1966-06-09 theologian, physician, Protestant priest, religious socialist, chairman of the Union of Socialist Theologians Rackwitz, Arthur other resident 1895-08-04 1980-08-16 Protestant priest, religious socialist, anti-fascist, publicist Zaschka, Engelbert scientist resident 1895-09-01 1955-06-26 engineer, technical designer, inventor, helicopter pioneer Vetter, Karl Otto Paul journalist native 1897-03-18 1957-09-15 author, editor, politician, peace activist, RNZ editor-in-chief Meisel, Will artist native 1897-09-17 1967-04-29 composer, film composer, dancer, publisher Schuhmann, Walter politician resident 1898-04-03 1956-12-02 Nazi Party official, Alter Kämpfer, Neukölln borough section leader, member of the Reichstag (1930–45) Ley, Gritta artist native 1898-08-23 1986-12-17 actor Baberske, Robert artist native 1900-05-01 1958-03-27 cinematographer Braun, Otto politician resident 1900-09-28 1974-08-14 journalist, Communist functionary, Comintern agent, political and military advisor to the CCP; a.k.a. Li De Bennewitz, Erwin politician native 1902-06-05 1980-10-22 mechanic, Treptow borough representative (SPD/GDR), Treptow borough mayor (1946–48) Riefenstahl, Leni artist resident 1902-08-22 2003-09-08 film director, photographer, actor; sister of Heinz; born Helene Bertha Amalie Riefenstahl Beese, Hertha politician resident 1902-09-10 1987-10-15 teacher, Young Socialists (Jusos) co-founder, legislator, Reinickendorf borough councilor (1949–65), Arbeiterwohlfahrt district chairwoman, Berlin city elder (1972); daughter of Gertrud Scholz and Neukölln's third mayor and first borough mayor Alfred Scholz; sister of Arno Scholz; born Hertha Scholz Roßkopf, Ernst Walter Fritz artist native 1903-02-13 1986-07-02 cinematographer Arendt, Erich artist resident 1903-04-15 1984-09-24 teacher, poet, translator Ulbricht, Lotte other native 1903-04-19 2002-03-27 socialist party official; wife of Walter; born Charlotte Kühn Krause, Klaus Willi artist resident 1903-05-02 1976-03-25 actor, voice actor; born Willy Hermann Krause Larsen, Maximilian artist native 1904-02-13 1975-01-13 actor, voice actor; born Max Fritz Bruno Schwenkner Scholz, Arno journalist native 1904-02-22 1971-07-30 journalist, publicist, publisher; son of Gertrud Scholz and Neukölln's third mayor and first borough mayor Alfred Scholz; brother of Hertha Beese Wolke, Bruno athlete native 1904-05-04 1973-12-23 road bicycle racer Wichmann, Hans athlete native 1905-01-28 1981-09-23 middle-distance runner Wöhrn, Fritz Oskar Karl other native 1905-03-12 1979-12-18 police officer, SS Hauptsturmführer, Eichmannreferat administrator Rall, Adolf Anselm other native 1905-06-07 1933-11-02 trucker, SA member, murdered Reichstag fire whistleblower Stasiewski, Bernhard scientist native 1905-11-14 1995-07-01 historian, Catholic priest Muchow, Reinhold politician resident 1905-12-21 1933-09-12 National Socialist grassroots organizer, Alter Kämpfer, Berlin organizational party leader; founded the Neukölln Model of independently operating cells, applied Berlin-wide in 1932 Riefenstahl, Heinz scientist native 1906-03-05 1944-07-20 engineer; brother of Leni Schmidt, Charles politician native 1906-06-03 1971-12-02 tobacco merchant, Berlin state representative Wolke, Rudolf Paul athlete native 1906-06-09 1979-03-12 racing cyclist Schmidt, Paul Otto Bruno other native 1906-08-16 1942-10-19 criminal, central figure of the Blomberg–Fritsch affair Hübner, Walter other native 1906-08-24 1969 precision engineer, major of the Neukölln SA Winkler, Gerhard artist native 1906-09-12 1977-09-25 composer, film composer, songwriter Bardtke, Hans Walter Kurt scientist native 1906-09-22 1975-03-08 Protestant theologian, classical historian Taylor, John Wilkinson other resident 1906-09-26 2001-12-11 educator, director general of UNESCO (1952–53) Heltzel, Rudolf artist resident 1907-01-14 2005-06-10 painter, sculptor Ardenne, Manfred Baron von scientist resident 1907-01-20 1997-05-26 researcher, applied physicist, nuclear physicist, inventor, politician Borchert, Ernst Wilhelm artist native 1907-03-13 1990-06-01 actor, voice actor Haegert, Wilhelm jurist native 1907-03-14 1994-04-24 lawyer, NS ministry official Schmidt, Karl Oswald Willi other resident 1907-05-02 1972-03-08 SA leader, member of the Neukölln chapter; a.k.a. as Schweinebacke Bluhm, Walter artist native 1907-08-05 1976-12-02 actor, voice actor Lehmann, Hans Heinz scientist native 1907-08-13 1985-06-06 historian, anglicist Mießner, Rudolf journalist native 1907-11-07 1973-01-16 Communist functionary, politician, editor-in-chief of i.a. Junge Welt (1947–49), East German radio and TV line producer Benário Prestes, Olga other resident 1908-02-12 1942-04-07 stenographer, YCI and KJVD activist, Communist militant; born Olga Gutmann Benário Seibt, Kurt politician native 1908-02-13 2002-06-21 Communist functionary, East German Minister for Direction and Control of Regional and District Councils (1964–65), chairman of the SED Central Revision Commission (1967–89) Persson, Rosl other native 1908-02-29 2010-01-03 women's sports pioneer, alpinist, gymnastics coach, clerk, traveling acrobat, singer and musician; born Rosl Pauli Pannek, Bruno Willy artist resident 1908-12-08 1984-04-23 precision engineer, amateur actor, member of the Loriot ensemble Hilliger, Otto artist native 1909 1987 pianist, composer, choir director Rossow, Walter architect native 1910-01-28 1992-01-02 landscape architect, university professor, author; central figure in Berlin's post-war reconstruction Thiemann, Elsa artist resident 1910-02-07 1981-11-15 photographer, designer; born Elsa Franke Lehnert, Martin scientist native 1910-05-20 1992-03-04 anglicist, professor Meysel, Inge artist native 1910-05-30 2004-07-10 actor, voice actor Leuschner, Bruno Max politician native 1910-08-12 1965-02-10 industrial clerk, East German Communist politician and functionary Lüdke, Johannes Jakobus Michael artist native 1910-10-23 1972-05-11 documentary film director, film editor Weckerling, Rudolf other resident 1911-05-03 2014-01-31 Protestant priest, peace activist Ludwig, Hermann artist native 1911-07-27 1982-02-22 film editor, film production manager Lewin, Fridl politician native 1911-09-15 2004-07-02 bookbinder, socialist activist (SAJ, SPD, later SED), FDJ co-founder and central committee delegate (1946–49), East German functionary; later Fridl Hensel-Lewin Nicklitz, Walter politician native 1911-11-28 1989-10-04 mason, architect, magistrate, building official, state representative, deputy mayor of Berlin (SPD, 1959–65) Meudtner, Ilse athlete resident 1912-11-01 1990-07-18 diver, dancer, choreographer, journalist Ziegler, Walter jurist native 1912-11-05 1977-02-20 East German Supreme Court chief justice (First Senate, 1950–62) Schipulle, Hans artist native 1913-03-13 1977-08-12 film editor, documentary filmmaker Voelker, Alexander politician native 1913-08-01 2001-02-24 industrial business manager, Berlin state representative, city elder of Berlin (1980) Bergmann, Erika other native 1915-01-03 1996 concentration camp guard, murderer; born Erika Belling Rahl, Mady artist native 1915-01-03 2009-08-29 actor, voice actor, singer Szelinski-Singer, Katharina artist resident 1918-05-24 2010-12-20 sculptor; born Katharina Singer Ihle, Hans Joachim artist native 1919-12-21 1997-12-15 sculptor Ebener, Dietrich scientist native 1920-02-14 2011-07-13 classical philologian, author, translator Lipinski, Rudi scientist native 1920-03-26 2002-07-13 historian, annalist Weizsäcker, Richard Karl Freiherr von politician associated 1920-04-15 2015-01-31 Neukölln representative (CDU, 1979–84), Governing Mayor of West Berlin (1981–84), President of Germany (1984–94) Edel, Peter artist native 1921-07-12 1983-05-07 graphic artist, author; born Hans Peter Hirschweh Wolff, Friedrich jurist native 1922-07-30 2024-06-10 lawyer, East German official Fischer-Fabian, S. journalist resident 1922-09-22 2011-11-16 novelist, non-fiction author, journalist; born Siegfried Fischer Schäfer, Gerd E. artist native 1923-07-14 2001-09-20 actor, Kabarett satirist; born Gerhard Kurt Egilhard Schäfer Kieling, Wolfgang artist native 1924-03-16 1985-10-07 actor, voice actor Schulz, Paul other resident 1925-07-08 2013-02-25 Posadist political theorist, Socialist activist, ufologist, metallurgist Bröker, Fredi other associated 1925-11-12 1955-07-05 chimney sweep, Anti-Communist, possible German intelligence agent; died in Neukölln as a casualty of the Berlin Wall border regime; a.k.a. Wolfgang Pankow Möller, Gunnar artist native 1928-07-01 2017-05-16 actor Rüster, Lothar jurist native 1930-01-22 2010-01-08 jurist, author, professor, East German official Nieswandt, Erich journalist native 1930-12-30 2008-11-18 radio host, reporter, voice actor Fiebach, Helmut athlete native 1933-08-08 2016-07-28 footballer, baker, chauffeur, storeowner Gruner, Joachim artist native 1933-08-18 2011-09-23 composer, musician Buchholz, Horst artist native 1933-12-04 2003-03-03 actor, voice actor Peters, Gerd artist native 1934-01-09 2023-02-23 actor, author, journalist, naval officer Limbach, Jutta jurist native 1934-03-27 2016-09-10 jurist, professor, Berlin Senator of Justice, president of the Federal Constitutional Court and Goethe-Institut Jercha, Heinz other resident 1934-07-01 1962-03-27 butcher, Berlin Wall escape agent Oefelein, Rainer architect associated 1935-08-23 2011-01-19 built Neukölln's High-Deck-Siedlung with Bernhard Freund Abraham, Peter artist native 1936-01-19 2015-02-06 author, screenwriter, line producer, theater critic; a.k.a. Karl Georg von Löffelholz Mann, Rahel Renate other native 1937-06-07 2022-03-31 physician, psychotherapist, lyricist, Shoah survivor; born Renate Wolf Müller, Klaus athlete native 1938-01-26 team handball player and coach Bosetzky, Horst artist resident 1938-02-01 2018-09-16 author, novelist, sociologist Brehmer, KP artist native 1938-09-12 1997-12-16 painter, graphic artist, filmmaker; born Klaus Peter Brehmer Kulpok, Alexander journalist resident 1938-11-13 radio journalist & presenter, author, German Videotext editor-in-chief Fuchs, Wolfgang other resident 1939-01-08 2001-06-07 drugstore owner, Berlin Wall escape agent Giesen, Traugott other resident 1940-05-06 theologian, priest, Christian author Radeke, Winfried artist resident 1940-11-30 composer, cantor, conductor, director; founder and art director of the Neukölln Opera Zander, Frank artist native 1942-02-04 singer, presenter, actor Landowsky, Klaus-Rüdiger politician native 1942-07-21 Berlin state representative (CDU, 1975–2001), Berlin Hyp chairman (1993–2001, resigned amidst the Berlin Banking Scandal) Sgonina, Alexander artist native 1943 sculptor, physicist, radio engineer; born Willi Alexander Godenrath Rennert, Jürgen artist native 1943-03-12 author, poet, essayist, translator Schmitt, Walfriede artist native 1943-03-26 actor, voice actor, author Roski, Ulrich artist resident 1944-03-04 2003-02-20 musician, singer-songwriter Ettlich, Wolfgang artist native 1947-05-26 film director Vogel, Peter scientist native 1947-08-31 pedagogue, professor Kolland, Dorothea scientist associated 1947-10-31 musicologist, director of Neukölln's Kulturamt (Culture Office, 1983–2012); born Dorothea Keupp Buchholz, Werner scientist native 1948-01-25 historian, professor Moessinger, Irene other resident 1949-10-14 nurse, cultural manager, equine-assisted therapist; founder and former director of the Tempodrom Kalkowski, Kalle artist native 1950-01-20 singer, musician, painter; born Gottfried Kalkowski Funke, Arno Martin Franz artist resident 1950-03-14 graphic artist, author, former extortionist; a.k.a. Dagobert Strätz, Harald artist native 1951-07-17 2013-06-19 author, broadcast writer Kapielski, Thomas Alfred Franz artist resident 1951-09-16 author, visual artist, musician Weckman, Joachim industrialist resident 1953-10-04 entrepreneur, organic food pioneer Sazak, Selçuk artist resident 1954-03-16 actor, Turkish film festival director Haule, Eva Sybille other resident 1954-07-16 photographer, former Red Army Faction terrorist; a.k.a. Eva Sybille Haule-Frimpong Hasucha, Christian artist native 1955 street and installation artist Walz, Brigitte Annemarie scientist associated 1955-02-16 ethnologist; co-founded the Karneval der Kulturen with Anett Szabó at Neukölln's Werkstatt der Kulturen Neiman, Susan scientist resident 1955-03-27 author, moral philosopher, essayist, cultural commentator Wendt, Michael politician resident 1955-12-01 2011-12-22 mechanical engineer, foundational member of the Berlin Alternative Liste Krawczyk, Stephan artist resident 1955-12-31 author, songwriter, East-German dissident Steinmeier, Frank-Walter politician associated 1956-01-05 jurist, Minister of Foreign Affairs (SPD, 2013–17), President of Germany (since 2017), active member of the Reformed Evangelical Bethlehem parish in Böhmisch-Rixdorf Kinsky, Esther artist resident 1956-09-12 author, translator Barkow, Frank architect associated 1957 built the Estrel Tower with Regine Leibinger Şenalp, Hilmi architect associated 1957 built Neukölln's Şehitlik Mosque Feddersen, Jan journalist resident 1957-07-14 social economist, reporter, editor of Die Tageszeitung Eryilmaz, Abdullah artist resident 1958 author, songwriter, bookseller Farin, Klaus artist resident 1958-04-20 author, publisher, anti-discrimination activist, co-founder of PEN Berlin Lilienthal, Matthias artist native 1959-12-21 director, theater manager, dramaturge, journalist Bolien, Michael other native 1960-09-18 radio host, programmer, engineer, teacher Knie, Andreas scientist resident 1960-12-12 sociologist, professor, traffic researcher Braun, Lena artist resident 1961-04-04 performance and visual artist, curator, author Verschuer, Leopold von artist resident 1961-04-09 actor, voice actor, author, theater and radio drama director, translator Heisig, Kirsten jurist associated 1961-08-24 2010-06-28 Neukölln judge, author; propagated the procedural Neukölln Model Garweg, Burkhard Maria Heimfried other resident 1961-09-01 fugitive, criminal suspect, radical left-wing activist, former member of the Red Army Faction terrorist group Demirbüken-Wegner, Emine politician resident 1961-09-07 journalist, integration commissioner (Tempelhof-Schöneberg), borough mayor of Reinickendorf (since 2023, CDU); born Emine Demirbüken Tuckermann, Anja artist resident 1961-11-24 author, novelist, journalist Weisse, Simon artist associated 1962 filmmaker, model maker, property master, set designer Traub, Franziska artist resident 1962-08-03 actor, Kabarett satirist Juwelia artist resident 1963-01-14 drag queen, singer, painter, gallery owner; a.k.a. Juwelia Soraya; born Stefan Stricker Benedict, Peter artist resident 1963-07-13 actor, film director; born Christian Riss Lieschied, Uwe other associated 1963-09-21 2006-03-21 murdered police chief superintendent Sahihi, Ashkan artist resident 1963-11-27 photographer Darabi Kazeruni, Kazem other resident 1964 Iranian intelligence agent, Hezbollah representative; convicted for the Mykonos restaurant assassinations (1992) Kay, Manuela journalist native 1964-04-02 author, publisher, journalist, filmmaker, radio host, Siegessäule editor-in-chief (1996–2005) Betz, Martin artist resident 1964-06-17 political satirist, musician, author Herrndorf, Wolfgang artist resident 1965-06-12 2013-08-26 author, painter, illustrator, caricaturist Hannemann, Uli artist resident 1965-08-25 author, columnist Hacke, Alexander artist native 1965-10-11 musician, singer, music producer, filmmaker Krüger, Roland other associated 1966-04-06 2006-04-27 murdered police superintendent; a.k.a. Boulette Sallmann, Bernhard artist resident 1967 documentary film director Meißner, Tobias Oliver artist resident 1967-08-04 novelist, cartoonist Reding, Benjamin artist resident 1969-01-03 film director, screenwriter, author Schreifels, Walter Arthur artist resident 1969-03-10 musician, singer Hermann, Judith artist resident 1970-05-15 author Sterblich, Ulrike artist native 1970-09-01 author, columnist, radio host Röggla, Kathrin artist resident 1971-06-14 author, radio drama and theater writer Wagner, Jan artist resident 1971-10-18 poet, essayist, translator Wedhorn, Tanja artist resident 1971-12-14 actor Ziege, Christian athlete native 1972-02-01 footballer, football manager Blomberg, Sebastian artist resident 1972-05-24 actor Dege, Timo artist resident 1973 street poet, author Metschurat, Barnaby artist native 1974-09-22 actor Lucic, Nenad artist resident 1974-09-24 actor Burns, Barry artist resident 1974-11-14 musician Krömer, Kurt artist native 1974-11-20 comedian, actor, presenter, author; born Alexander Bojcan Topal, Murat artist native 1975 comedian, Kabarett satirist, former police officer Balcı, Güner Yasemin journalist native 1975-02-09 journalist, author, documentary film director; Neukölln's integration commissioner (since 2020) Winson artist resident 1975-03-04 musician, radio host, podcaster; born Marcus Winson Alexander, Robin journalist resident 1975-05-13 reporter, journalist, author Buß, Martin athlete resident 1976-04-07 high jumper MOK artist native 1976-09-21 rapper, musician; born Tarkan Karaalioğlu Khani, Behzad Karim artist resident 1977 author, journalist Nathan, Sascha artist resident 1977-05-04 actor Chérif, Karim artist resident 1977-05-31 actor Tarééc artist native 1978-07-03 R&B singer, musician; f.k.a. T-Soul; born Tarek Hussein Redler, Lucy politician resident 1979-08-17 Trotskyist activist (ISA, Anti-capitalist Left), national party executive (Die Linke, 2016–21); a.k.a. rote Lucy ("red Lucy") Pabst, Pamela jurist resident 1978-10-29 Germany's first blind attorney-at-law Parka, Jurassica artist native 1979-10-17 drag queen, show host, entertainer, author; born Mario Olszinski Soze, Keyza artist resident 1980 composer, music producer, DJ; a.k.a. Verbal Kint; born Konrad Karkos Zillmann, Daniel artist resident 1981-01-18 actor, voice actor, singer Jagla, Jan-Hendrik athlete resident 1981-05-25 basketball player Herzberg, Martin artist native 1981-05-28 musician, composer, musicologist Uddenberg, Anna artist resident 1982 sculpturist Melendiz artist native 1982-06-14 musician, composer; born Volkan Melendiz Berrached, Anne Zohra artist resident 1982-07-31 film director, screenwriter Akboga, Kazim artist resident 1982-08-20 2017-02-09 musician, rapper, singer, DJ, commercial video writer & producer; born Kazım Akboğa Hızarcı, Derviş other native 1983 teacher, author, Berlin integration commissioner (2019–20) Schazad, Graziella artist resident 1983-07-02 musician, singer-songwriter Sukini artist resident 1983-12-29 musician, columnist, rapper; f.k.a. Sookee and Quing of Berlin; born Nora Hantzsch Naumann, Henrike artist resident 1984 2026-02-14 installation artist Otremba, Hendrik artist resident 1984-09-21 musician, author, visual artist Stoehrfaktor, Lena artist resident 1984 musician, rapper, social worker, educator; born Lena Stoehr Bumaye, Ali artist resident 1985-01-11 musician, rapper; born Ali Alulu Abdul-razzak Senesie, Sahr athlete resident 1985-06-20 footballer; half-brother of Antonio Rüdiger Schuch, Albrecht artist resident 1985-08-21 actor Stokowski, Margarete artist resident 1986-04-14 author, essayist Özdemir, Oktay artist resident 1986-10-06 actor, theater author; born İnanç Oktay Özdemir Then, Felicitas journalist resident 1986-11-29 journalist, editor, TV cook Mondtag, Ersan artist resident 1987 theater and opera director; born Ersan Aygün Amjahid, Mohamed journalist resident 1988 non-fiction author, journalist, reporter Gringo artist native 1988 musician, rapper; born Ilfan Kalender Aikins, Jonathan Kwesi artist resident 1989-01-22 actor, voice actor Herman, Rony artist resident 1990 actor Janta, Oumi other resident 1991 jam skater, model, influencer Kobosil artist native 1991-04-05 DJ, music producer, musician; born Max Kobosil Zeuge, Tyron athlete native 1992-05-12 professional boxer Hmeidan, Kenda artist resident 1992-09-13 actor, voice actor Juju artist resident 1992-11-20 musician, rapper; born Judith Wessendorf Rüdiger, Antonio athlete native 1993-03-03 footballer; half-brother of Sahr Senesie; a.k.a. El Loco, Don Antonio and Toni Rüdiger Lou, Alice Phoebe artist resident 1993-07-19 musician, singer-songwriter; born Alice Matthew Lang, Ricarda politician resident 1994-01-17 MdB (Alliance 90/The Greens, since 2021), co-deputy party leader (2022–24) Juno, Madeline artist resident 1995-08-11 musician, singer-songwriter; born Madeline Obrigewitsch Ngee artist native 1996 musician, rapper; born Nikolas Schüssler Kayil, Jack athlete resident 2006-01-27 basketball player

Resistance against National Socialism

Many of Germany's resistance fighters and activists against National Socialist rule operated from Neukölln, for example Heinz Kapelle and Ursula Goetze, who coordinated with the Red Orchestra in the quarter. Some activists also moved to socialist East Germany after World War II and became prominent state officials and politicians, for example Klaus Gysi and Frieda Unger.

List of notable resistance activists and fighters against National Socialism in Berlin-Neukölln Name Status Born Died Profession and notes Hermann, Albert Reinhold Richard resident 1885-11-10 1945-04-29 pressman, unionist Künstler, Franz resident 1888-05-13 1942-09-10 mechanic, unionist, politician Unger, Frieda resident 1888-07-09 1975-04-12 politician, East German functionary; born Frieda Eckert Sahlberg, Clara native 1890-07-03 1977-04-13 tailor, unionist Boock, Georg resident 1891-09-06 1961-06-23 Neukölln administrator, mayor of i.a. Erfurt (1946–61) Lange, Emil Alfred Fritz resident 1898-11-23 1981-09-16 teacher, Communist borough and city representative Bischoff, Fritz native 1900-07-01 1945-05-03 salesman, Communist functionary; husband of Charlotte Kühn, Bruno native 1901-12-17 1944 (approx.) Communist functionary; brother of Lotte Ulbricht Glatzer, Helene native 1902-02-08 1935-01-31 clerk Rathmann, Anna native 1902-02-15 1992-10-08 metalworker, Neukölln borough representative (KPD), Lichtenberg district chairwoman (SED); sister of Gertrud Rosenmeyer; born Anna Helene Rosenmeyer Sieg, John resident 1903-02-03 1942-10-15 Communist railroad worker, journalist; leading member of the Red Orchestra; pseudonymously a.k.a. Siegfried Nebel Weise, Martin resident 1903-05-12 1943-11-15 journalist, borough representative (1929–33) Kapteina, Hugo resident 1903-06-23 1945-04-20 journalist Seelenbinder, Werner associated 1904-08-02 1944-10-24 wrestler; trained and is buried in Neukölln Schröder, Georg native 1904-10-10 1944-09-11 blacksmith, welder Rosenmeyer, Gertrud "Trude" native 1904-10-19 1982-09-16 assembler, Neukölln borough representative (KPD), post-war Neukölln KPD chairwoman, Lichtenberg district secretary (SED); sister of Anna Rathmann; partner of Wilhelm Kling Jahnke, Willi native 1906-08-29 1992-01-01 merchant, unionist, Communist functionary, borough mayor of Lichtenberg (1955–59, SED) and Prenzlauer Berg (1964–69) Siedentopf, Hedwig native 1909-08-22 1994 sewer, member of the Uhrig–Römer resistance group, Kreuzberg district officer, SED member Loll, Ferdinand native 1910-03-08 1986-08-05 shipping agent, Communist activist, GDR police officer; convicted for the Richardsburg attack (1931) Crüger, Tommy native 1911-05-17 2003-01-17 Communist functionary, politician; born Herbert Crüger Hesse, Eberhard native 1911-06-28 1986-03-28 printer, chairman of Neukölln's SAJ, unionist, Berlin state representative (1956–75, SPD) Gysi, Klaus native 1912-03-03 1999-03-06 journalist, publisher, politician; father of Gregor Hoffmann, Friedel native 1912-12-14 1997-12-26 Socialist functionary, East German political official; born Friedel Schmiedel; later a.k.a. Friedel Lange Tschäpe, Herbert native 1913-01-15 1944-11-27 construction worker, carpenter, Communist functionary Walter, Grete native 1913-02-22 1935-10-21 Communist youth worker Kapelle, Heinz resident 1913-09-17 1941-07-01 pressman, Communist politician Jadamowitz, Hildegard native 1916-02-12 1942-08-18 factory worker, salesclerk, medical assistant, Communist functionary; a.k.a. Hilde Jadamowitz; born Hildegard Jadamowicz Goetze, Ursula resident 1916-03-29 1943-08-05 stenographer Walter, Irene native 1919-01-23 1942-08-18 secretary Rehmer, Friedrich native 1921-06-02 1943-05-13 locksmith, adjuster, teacher

Mayors and other local politicians

Rixdorf became an independent city in 1899 and was incorporated as a borough of Berlin in the 1920 Greater Berlin Act, so the city of Rixdorf (later Neukölln) has only had three mayors and lord mayors respectively. Both the Hermannstraße and the Boddinstraße, together with the corresponding plazas, were named after Rixdorf's first mayor, Hermann Boddin. None of Rixdorf's and Neukölln's three city mayors were natives, while only Alfred Scholz' political party affiliation is known from historical sources. As part of the borough Neukölln, the quarter of Neukölln has been administered by the borough mayor since 1920. As of 2025, the incumbent is Martin Hikel (SPD).

Name Title City Term Party Born Died Notes Boddin, Karl Wilhelm Hermann Mayor, First Mayor, Lord Mayor Rixdorf 1899–1907 – 1844-05-16 1907-07-23 in office until his death Kaiser, Curt Mayor, Lord Mayor Rixdorf, Neukölln 1907–1919 – 1865-01-26 1940-04-25 often spelled Kurt Kaiser Scholz, Alfred Heinrich Paul Mayor Neukölln 1919–1920 SPD 1876-05-15 1944-11-02 transitioned to Neukölln's first borough mayor

List of other notable local politicians of Rixdorf, Neukölln and Berlin-Neukölln Name Status Born Died Notes Manitius, Adolph Gebhard resident 1682 1754-12-27 Rixdorf hofmeister, proprietor of the schultheiß fief court (1704–37) Pflüger, Karl Friedrich Wilhelm native 1784-12-12 1833-06-27 schultheiß of Deutsch-Rixdorf (1814–30) Wanzlick, Daniel Friedrich native 1819-02-15 1877-06-19 last Bohemian schultheiß of Böhmisch-Rixdorf (5 May 1869 – 11 June 1873) Schinke, Johann Friedrich native 1826-11-20 1875-08-03 last schultheiß of Deutsch-Rixdorf (27 January 1863 – 1 January 1874) Maresch, Daniel resident 1833-09-11 1923-12-23 alderman, municipal magistrate, city administrator Barta, Carl Friedrich resident 1833-12-10 1914-09-25 innkeeper, Böhmisch-Rixdorf's principal municipal magistrate (1871–73), municipal magistrate under Hermann Boddin (1874–88) Jansa, Wilhelm native 1834-12-20 1909-04-20 farmer, alderman, municipal magistrate (1878–99) Mier, Friedrich Wilhelm resident 1836-02-18 1912-12-19 Rixdorf/Neukölln city councilor Schudoma, Johann native 1840-02-19 1903-10-04 only Bohemian municipal magistrate of the unified Rixdorf authorities (1874–99), city councilor (1899–1903) Sander, Hermann resident 1845-07-14 1939-03-12 industrialist, Rixdorf municipal councilor (1887–96), municipal administrator (1896–98), Rixdorf/Neukölln city administrator and honorary council president (1899–1919) Bürkner, August native 1847-01-06 1914-12-27 Rixdorf municipal representative (1889–99), Rixdorf/Neukölln city councilor (1899–1914) Thiemann, August native 1849-09-10 1923-05-17 Rixdorf/Neukölln city magistrate and councilor (1899–1919) Leyke, Gustav Adolf resident 1851-09-10 1910-07-28 merchant, Rixdorf municipal administrator (1892–98), city councilor (1899–1910) Niemetz, Daniel Benjamin resident 1853-06-25 1910-05-09 gardener, Rixdorf municipal magistrate (1886–99), city councilor (1899–1909), city elder (1909) Voigt, Georg Philipp Wilhelm resident 1866-09-16 1927-04-13 Second Mayor of Rixdorf under Boddin (1899–1906), city councilor of Gdańsk, Lord Mayor of i.a. Frankfurt Wutzky, Emil resident 1871-10-04 1963-12-30 unionist, cooperativist, Rixdorf/Neukölln city councilor (1899–1917) Schönborn, Richard resident 1878-02-13 1957-03-03 merchant, borough representative (1924–25, Centre Party), member of the Reichstag (1925–30) Juchacz, Marie resident 1879-03-15 1956-01-26 housemaid, industry worker, social reformer, women's rights activist, executive and women's representative (1908–13, Rixdorf SPD), secretary for women's affairs in Cologne (1913–17), official at the Center for Home Working and the Food Commission, Berlin secretary for women's affairs (1917–19), Member of the Reichstag (1920–33), first female representative to address a German parliament, founder of the Arbeiterwohlfahrt; born Marie Gohlke Scholz, Hedwig Emma Gertrud resident 1881-04-26 1950-04-18 patternmaker, executive and women's representative (Rixdorf SPD), only female member of Neukölln's Workers' and Soldiers' Council (1918/19), Neukölln city and borough representative (1919–21), Berlin city representative (1921–33), Reinickendorf borough representative (1946–50); wife of Neukölln's third mayor and first borough mayor Alfred Scholz; later Hedwig Emma Gertrud Hass; born Hedwig Emma Gertrud Uster Schlecht, Paul native 1882-09-28 1947-04-29 toolmaker, member of the Revolutionary Stewards, Communist functionary (KPD), district administrator, member of the Reichstag (1924–28), party leader Löwenstein, Kurt resident 1885-05-18 1939-05-08 socialist reform pedagogue, borough councilor (1921–33) Raddatz, Erich resident 1886-11-28 1964-02-16 locksmith, borough representative (1926–30) Fechner, Max native 1892-07-27 1973-09-13 toolmaker, borough representative (1921–25) Ohm, Martin native 1895 1955 borough officer, administrative auditor, first post-war borough mayor of Neukölln (April–October 1945), appointed by the Soviet Army; instrumental in Neukölln's immediate post-war recovery Fink, Hans associated 1898-12-18 1945-08-01 bank clerk, NSDAP Kreisleiter (district chairman) for Neukölln, member of the Reichstag (1936–38) Fischer, Hermann Richard Gustav native 1900-02-24 1983-02-28 manager, administrator, Neukölln borough representative (1929–33, DVP), Berlin city and state representative (1948–58, FDP), Tempelhof borough mayor (1951–53), Berlin Senator of the Interior (1953–54), Mayor of Berlin (1954) Samson, Kurt resident 1900-05-08 1947-03-09 jurist, Neukölln borough mayor (NSDAP, 1933–45) Exner, Kurt native 1901-05-15 1996-11-12 unionist, borough mayor (1949–59, Berlin SPD), Berlin senator for Labor and Social Welfare under Willy Brandt (1959–67) Kling, Wilhelm "Willi" resident 1902-02-07 1973-11-17 merchant, journalist, Neukölln sub-district chairman (KPD), post-war Neukölln KPD secretary, SED central committee official; partner of Gertrud Rosenmeyer; a.k.a. Fritz (Communist underground pseudonym) Wollenberg, Karl associated 1903-04-30 1958-04-25 fireman, storekeeper, German Labour Front executive, NSDAP Kreisleiter (district chairman) for Neukölln, member of the Reichstag (1938–45), judge for economic law Buwitt, Dankward native 1939-07-06 merchant, Neukölln district chairman (CDU), Berlin state representative (1975–91), member of the German Bundestag (MdB, 1990–2002) Hackel, Wolfgang resident 1942-11-27 political scientist, CDU Neukölln executive member, borough councilor, MdB (1980–85), member of the European Parliament (1985–89) Bielka, Frank native 1947-10-22 business economist, borough mayor (1989–91), Degewo board chairman (until 2002) Buschkowsky, Heinz native 1948-07-31 public manager, author, borough mayor (1991/92, 2001–15) Giffey, Franziska resident 1978-05-03 public manager, borough mayor (2015–18, SPD), governing mayor of Berlin (2021–23) Koçak, Ferat Ali resident 1979-05-26 economist, manager, marketing director, Berlin state representative (Die Linke), MdB (since 2025); first politician of Die Linke to win a direct mandate in a formerly West German electoral district Audretsch, Andreas resident 1984-06-25 journalist, author, Neukölln Alliance 90/The Greens board member and speaker, MdB (since 2021), vice chairman of the parliamentary group Demir, Hakan resident 1984-11-16 political scientist, Migazin co-editor-in-chief, chairman of Rixdorf's local SPD office, SPD Berlin board member, MdB (since 2021), member of the Parliamentary Left Hikel, Martin resident 1986-04-30 teacher, borough mayor (2018–26), Berlin SPD chairman (2024–25) Helm, Anne resident 1986-06-07 actor, borough representative (Pirate Party), Berlin state representative (Die Linke), chairwoman of the parliamentary group (since 2022) Hopp, Marcel native 1988-02 teacher, author, influencer, Neukölln Juso chairman, borough deputy, SPD Neukölln co-chairman, Berlin state representative (SPD, since 2021)

Local building officials

During the tenure of Reinhold Kiehl and his colleagues, for example fellow architect Heinrich Best (1876–1916), Rixdorf's Hochbauamt (office of public works service) and building authority received a stellar reputation across the German Empire, which attracted many young architects, who all earned their stripes in Rixdorf and Neukölln before becoming often renowned independent architects, for example Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Franz Hoffmann and Bruno Taut.

Name Born Died