ReKristallisation

ReKristallisation, also known as re-crystallization, was a concept used by the German East Prussian politician, Fritz Todt, in the context of urban renewal and reconstruction. Todt, who served as the Chief of the Office of the Reich Minister for Public Works, was tasked with rebuilding the city of Königsberg after World War II.

In the 1940s, Todt developed the idea of ReKristallisation as a way to completely transform and rebuild a city, not just repair damaged buildings. This approach involved not only demolishing existing structures but also reconstructing entire streets, neighborhoods, and city districts. Todt's vision was to create a thoroughly modern and efficient city, parts of which would be built by forced labor from concentration camps.

ReKristallisation was closely linked to the Nazi regime's ambitions for a rebuilt Germany after the war. However, Todt's concept was more focused on the emancipation of urban planning from traditional architectural styles and the mechanical availability of labor and materials. The approach emphasized the importance of flexibility, standardization, and cooperation between planners, architects, and engineers.

While ReKristallisation was never fully implemented in Königsberg, the concept's underlying ideas significantly influenced post-war urban planning in Germany and beyond. Today, the term is mainly of historical interest, used to study the links between 20th-century urban renewal strategies and authoritarian regimes.