Especially in Berlin underground stations, the Jehovah’s Witnesses advertise with their “watchtower” – like here at Alexanderplatz Photo: Olaf Selchow
By Isabel Pancake
They stand with their carts in Berlin subway stairways and try to sell their magazine “Wachtturm” to passers-by. In the capital, Jehovah’s Witnesses have long been part of the cityscape.
According to their own statements, 6,178 Berliners officially belong to Jehovah’s Witnesses. In a nationwide comparison according to the number of members, the capital is in eighth place. The followers call themselves “preachers”.
They are organized into 71 congregations and meet at the Kingdom Halls. There are as many of these in Berlin as there are districts – twelve. But the halls are by no means distributed over all districts!
No Jehovah’s Witnesses in the City
Striking: the sect meets above all outside of the S-Bahn ring. There is not a single meeting point in the city. But two in Spandau and Reinickendorf. The next Kingdom Hall is not far away in Gesundbrunnen.
Although there are also supporters of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Brandenburg (2,645, eleventh place in a nationwide comparison according to membership numbers), they also stick to Berlin. The 29 Kingdom Halls are spread around the capital. There are also meeting points in larger cities such as Neuruppin or Brandenburg an der Havel.
“Preachers” in the rural area – none!