Hi there, I'll try to answer all of your questions here. I'm very active in the anti-gentrification scene in Berlin and often cited as an expert in the matter by the gentrification council of Kreuzberg.

I was wondering if you could tell me why Gentrification has happened within the city?

This has historical reasons. Before World War II, the best places to be were in the countryside, because that's where all the food was came from. However, at the end of World War II, Hitler made most people from the country move to the cities, in hope that the allies wouldn't bomb civilists. He was basically using them as a human shield, but it didn't work out very well. Anyway, after the war, Berlin was on Russian territory, which later became the German Democratic Republic. In the GDR people weren't allowed to move so easily. The government pretty much decided where you would live, so it was difficult for the people to get back to the countryside. West Berlin suddenly was in the middle of enemy terrotory, so for people living there it was impossible to get out anyway. The population of Berlin grew rapidly and it was hard to move somewhere else, so the city got more and more crowded. This is when the government of the GDR together with their partners in the USSR, both of which notoriously underfunded, decided to profit from this situation. So every once in a while they increased rents and prices in restaurants, since they knew that no one could escape anyway and would have to pay. After the reunification and fall of the USSR, the party "Die Linke" (mostly consisting of former members of the GDR government party SED) together with the FSB (former KGB) didn't see any reason to stop profiting from this. They lured next to all doctors from the countryside in Brandenburg to the cities, so it's really hard to survive there should you get sick, so even today, moving from Berlin back to the countryside is not a smart move. And to this very day, the communists of the Die Linke and the russian secret service increase living costs every once in while for their own profit. Since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis and the new tensions between Russia and the EU, the gentrification has taken up a lot of speed. Because of the sanctions and the low oil price, Russia is in desperate need for money, and they make Berliners pay.

Why are some Berliners opposed to it?

Some say that people in general don't like paying more for the same thing they got before for less, but I think that's too oversimplified. The truth is, some people feel a deep disdain for socialists and former communists, who are responsible for the gentrification, and thus oppose whatever they do.

What movements (if any) have we seen that demonstrate opposition to a "creative class" coming in?

Traditionally the "creative class" (often referred to as "Putin's little helpers", as they're commonly accused of driving the gentrification on Putin's orders) were opposed by conservative parties like the CDU/CSU and NPD. They try to fight gentrification by preventing further growth of population, for example by deporting refugees. Since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis, this matter got broader attention by normal citizens, and organizations like Pegida (also opposing immigration and thus growth of population) formed.

What is the future for a younger generation if it carriers on?

We can see that the gentrification splits the population and drives normal citizens into different extremes. Some join organizations like Pegida, CDU/CSU or their sister-party NPD in order to fight the exploitation of Berlin citizens by the communist parties and Russia. Others want to have a piece of the gentrification cake and join Putin's helpers. On both sides, it goes so far that people even feel the need to settle this matter in an armed conflict in Ukraine, joining either Ukraine's volunteer army (those with "SS" and swastikas on their helmets) or the pro-russian separatists. So what's the future of the younger generation if this carries on? As much as it hurts to say, but I'm afraid that in the end the armed conflict won't stay in Ukraine, but there will be a more direct armed conflict between the both sides here in Berlin.

How long has this gentrification been going on in Berlin?

Since 1944.

I hope this helps. If you have any followup questions, don't hesitate and ask away. I'm also bookable as speaker for conferences on the matter and interviews.