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Potsdam Clears Hermannswerder House as Hundreds Protest and Demand Temporary Community Use

Occupiers say they sought to force the city to open vacant buildings for social and cultural use, a demand that could raise local pressure on vacancy and housing policy.

Overview

  • The city ended a week-long occupation of a vacant building on Tornowstraße 40 on Hermannswerder when police entered the house on Friday and removed several activists.
  • Demonstrations continued into Tuesday evening with reporters and agencies counting roughly 500 participants who marched from the city center to the cleared property under a heavy police presence.
  • Police described the protests as peaceful and estimated earlier demonstrations at about 160 people while a dpa reporter later put one march near the Landtag at about 100 participants.
  • The occupier group is demanding the immediate return of the Hermannswerder house for temporary social and cultural use at least until any planned demolition takes place.
  • Activists frame the action as resistance to municipal vacancy and the episode could increase public pressure on Potsdam officials to change how empty commercial buildings are used or managed.