User:TranslateStudentSasha/Vegetable fight (Berlin)
The Berlin vegetable fight (Gemüseschlacht), also called bridge fight (Brückenschlacht) or water fight (Wasserschlacht), was a yearly mock fight between two neighboring districts in Germany's capital city, Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. Held in response to administrative reforms, which joined the two districts into one (Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg) in 2001, the fight represents the low-level animosity between the inhabitants of the two districts. The fight is authorized as a demonstration.
Similar events take place in the German cities of Hannover, between the districts of Linden and Nordstadt, and Leipzig, between the districts of Connewitz und Plagwitz.
History[edit]
The vegetable fight took place almost every summer between 1998 and 2013, except for a two-year break between 2007 and 2008 due to court proceedings. The fight centered on the Oberbaum bridge. Historically, the bridge over the river Spree was a border-crossing point between Friedrichshain in East Berlin and Kreuzberg in West Berlin.
The organisation of the fight regularly involved local political parties, such as the Bergpartei and the Pirate Party.
On the day[edit]
Participants of the vegetable fight tried to push back their opponents from the neighboring district and to conquer them by reaching the opposing side's bridgehead. The weapons used in this generally peaceful event included egg catapults, homemade water pistols, flour bombs, and foam batons. Fruit and vegetables were also permitted provided they were soft because they were rotten or had been boiled. Essentially, anything mushy, slimy, wobbly, or stinky, was allowed. Although there were no strict controls, there were no noteworthy injuries, which might be explained by the limited ability to make large-scale attacks.
Goal[edit]
In the fight, Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg each saw the other district as separatists that illegally seceded or had been occupied. Friedrichshain therefore referred to Kreuzberg as 'Lower Friedrichshain', while Kreuzberg referred to Friedrichshain as 'East Kreuzberg'. The primary goal for each side was to reunify the two districts under their own rule. There were also sometimes secondary goals, such as that of 'Upper-Friedrichshain' to become independent from Berlin and Germany and to leave NATO.
Combat units[edit]
Participants often grouped into combat units with comical names. For example, in Friedrichshain there was the 'Water Army of Friedrichshain', the 'Totally Cool Kreuzberg Opponents', the 'Anarchic-Sarcastic Berlin Attack Group of Friedrichshain', and the alliterative 'Female Feminist Front of Friedrichshain'. Kreuzberg groups included the 'National Army of Kreuzberg', which saw itself as the military arm of the 'Kreuzberg Patriotic Democrats/Realistic Center' satirical political party. In 2008, the Berlin section of 'Hedonist International' decided to use a tactic of changing fronts by fighting for both sides. Surrounding districts also took part. The 'North Neukölln Eh-lite Troop of the Paddling Proletarians' Army' fought to liberate the Kreuzberg-occupied Maybachufer street of Neukölln by placing themselves on the Kreuzberg side before turning around at the start of the fight and forming the front line of the Friedrichshain side.
According to impartial observers, Friedrichshain were regular victors of the fight, although this is contested by Kreuzberg. [[Category:Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg]] [[Category:Events in Berlin]] [[Category:Demonstrations]]