Charlotte von Mahlsdorf - Ab durch die Mitte: Ein Spaziergang...

1997, Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, Crossdressing, German,

Original title: "Ab durch die Mitte: Ein Spaziergang durch Berlin" (Straight through: A walk through Berlin).

"A stroll through the new, old capital of Germany. Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, Germany's most famous transvestite and unique contemporary witness, leads through her Berlin. Serious city history mixes with details and events that are not mentioned in any conventional Berlin guide ... Anecdotes that no one could tell except the Mahlsdorf."

"Just as lovingly as she collects, restores and exhibits old Wilhelminian styles, she describes her experiences in the Hohenzollern city palace shortly before its demolition, chats about the decades-long journey of a dining cupboard, dedicates a sensitive portrait to Queen Luise, as well as to the maids who pursued their duties in upper-class households around 1900.

"She takes us to secretive places, little-known monuments, which are always a bit off the main roads. In doing so, she takes a closer look at "historically faithful" renovated facades, shows us staircases and backyards, discovers the traces of a former life in wall remains, leads to cemeteries as well as in pubs. Her life was as exciting as a thriller, and here — in the middle of Berlin — it took place to a large extent."

Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, born as Lothar Berfelde on March 18, 1928, was a German transgender woman who gained fame for her preservation of the Gründerzeit Museum in Berlin. The Gründerzeit Museum, also known as the Gründerzeitmuseum or the Mahlsdorf Manor, housed a collection of items from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, providing a glimpse into German history and culture during that period. Charlotte von Mahlsdorf was also known for her personal story of survival during the Nazi regime and the East German communist era.

She managed to maintain the museum and her own identity as a transgender woman despite the challenges posed by the political and social climate of those times. Von Mahlsdorf's life story and her efforts to preserve history and cultural artifacts were documented in the play "I Am My Own Wife" by Doug Wright, which premiered in 2003. The play, based on interviews and conversations with Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, explored themes of identity, history, and resilience.

Charlotte von Mahlsdorf's life and work have inspired discussions about LGBTQ+ history, preservation, and the complexities of personal and collective memory. Her story serves as a testament to the power of individual dedication and determination in the face of adversity.

Available via lili-elbe.de