How a town renamed itself to erase its German identity
In short: Watch how a peaceful community of German-Canadians was forced to abandon its heritage during the First World War. This video explores the transition from Berlin, Ontario, to Kitchener, a move driven by wartime hysteria and local violence.
In 1833, the town was named Berlin after the Prussian capital. For decades, residents of German origin lived peacefully, blending German and British cultures. However, when Great Britain and Canada entered World War I in August 1914, anti-German sentiment surged. Tensions escalated into violence in early 1916, including the ransacking of social clubs and attacks on a German Lutheran preacher.
To distance themselves from the enemy, local leaders pushed for a name change. A 1916 referendum, marked by intimidation and high turnout, narrowly approved the change. The town officially became Kitchener on September 1, 1916, named after British Army officer Horatio Herbert Kitchener. While the name changed, it failed to stop outside suspicion, and the community eventually saw its German culture assimilated into the broader Canadian identity.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Why Did This Berlin Change Its Name?
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