Steinstücken
Steinstücken looks like a regular neighborhood on the edge of Berlin, close to Potsdam. On a simple city map, it blends into the suburbs. Its story, however, stands out. During the years of German division, this small area became one of the oddities of the border.
A West Berlin island in the East
When Germany was partitioned, the Berlin border formed a patchwork of enclaves and exclaves. Steinstücken was the most unusual of them: a tiny “island” of West Berlin completely surrounded by East German territory. Around 300 residents found themselves cut off from the rest of West Berlin, living under constant attention from two systems that met at their doorstep.
Life between borders
To keep daily life moving, special corridor arrangements were set up so people could travel between Steinstücken and West Berlin without long border checks. These routes became lifelines, allowing work, school, and family visits to continue with fewer delays. The solutions were far from simple, but they made the enclave more livable until borders finally opened.
Everyday ties with Potsdam
Today, the district is quiet again and the border has faded from view. As before the division, residents often rely on nearby Potsdam for everyday needs—shops, services, and errands—simply because it is closer. The geography that once caused complications now shapes a practical, local rhythm.
Source - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steinst%C3%BCcken
