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Turbulent Times - Hannover Through the Ages

Hannover: A Historical Overview — Download for editorial use: Image in print-ready resolution (300 dpi)Copyright: City of Hannover

Hannover was first mentioned in historical records in 1150 as the market town of “Hanovere.” The medieval settlement is located on a flood-protected bank of the Leine River, in the immediate vicinity of a river crossing and two important intersecting highways. However, the interpretation of the name Hanovere as “high bank” is disputed. In 1241, Hannover was granted city rights by Duke Otto, grandson of the Guelph Duke Henry the Lion. In the same year, the citizens were granted a right of shared use of the Eilenriede woodlands, which today, at 640 hectares, is Europe’s largest urban forest. In the 14th century, the city wall was constructed with 34 defensive towers, several of which are still preserved today (e.g., Pferdeturm, Döhrener Turm, Lister Turm, Beginenturm). The city gates (e.g., Steintor) and several Gothic churches (Marktkirche, Kreuzkirche) were also built. Hannover experienced its first economic boom, joined the Hanseatic League, and had a population of around 4,000.

The citizens of Hannover tended to join the Reformation movement—and in June 1533, a gathering in the town square swore allegiance to Martin Luther. The city council tried to resist this development, but the will of the people was stronger, so the council fled to the Catholic city of Hildesheim. Hannover became Protestant.

Heyday as a royal seat, an electoral principality, and a Guelph metropolis

In 1636, in the midst of the Thirty Years' War, Duke Georg von Calenberg made Hanover his capital in order to reclaim the territories he had conquered as a general for the House of Welf. After Georg von Calenberg, his four sons ruled the principality in succession. As part of the Principality of Calenberg, the city lost certain privileges but experienced a unique golden age: In 1666, Georg’s third son, Duke Johann Friedrich of Brunswick-Calenberg, began laying out the Great Garden and Herrenhausen Palace as the Guelphs’ summer residence. He brought one of the most significant philosophers of the 17th and 18th centuries to the court: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646–1716) developed his visionary ideas here. The court councilor and librarian served as a polymath in Hanover from 1676 to 1714.

George’s fourth son, Ernst August (1629–1698), became Elector in 1692 and transformed the Hanoverian court into one of the most magnificent in Germany. His wife, Electress Sophie of the Palatinate, fostered a life of wit and festive courtly elegance, and the Great Garden became her life’s work. She played a decisive role in redesigning it in the Dutch Baroque style and expanded it considerably. With the electoral title, Hannover established itself politically in Germany—famous figures from home and abroad visited the royal seat, such as George Frideric Handel, who became court Kapellmeister in 1710 under Ernst August’s son, Elector George Louis. The title of Elector and Sophie’s claim to the English throne (Sophie’s mother was the English Princess Elizabeth Stuart) opened up unprecedented opportunities for Hanover to influence the course of European history.

123 Years of Personal Union: The Royals of Hannover (1714–1837)

Electoress Sophie, the designated heir to the throne, died in 1714, followed shortly thereafter by Queen Anne of Great Britain—thus, in accordance with the Act of Settlement, the succession passed to Sophie’s son, George Louis, Elector of Hanover: in 1714, he became King George I of Great Britain, thereby establishing the 123-year-long personal union between Hanover and the British Kingdom. George I moved his residence to London and also ruled the Electorate from there—Hanover, which depended on the court, and the gardens in Herrenhausen were neglected and fell into a deep slumber. A circumstance to which Herrenhausen owes its Baroque integrity—for other Baroque gardens were redesigned in the English landscape style that was fashionable at the time. The electoral house (and, from 1814, also the royal house) of Hanover ruled Great Britain for five generations under personal union, until 1837: Victoria, the niece of William IV and Queen of Great Britain, could not become Queen of Hanover under the Hanoverian law of succession. Instead, her uncle, the Duke of Cumberland, became King Ernst August I of Hanover and Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg at the age of 66—marking the end of the personal union.

Industrialization, growth, and the Prussian provincial capital

Around 1825, Hannover became Germany’s first city to have gas streetlights. As the kingdom’s leading architect and urban planner, Georg Ludwig Friedrich Laves (1788–1864) had a significant influence on Hannover’s urban development (Ernst-August-Platz, the main train station, Georgsplatz, Königstraße, Waterlooplatz and -säule, the Opera House, Wangenhaimpalais, Laveshaus, and others)—laying the foundation for today’s cityscape with its grid of streets. With the first railway line in 1843, industrialization gained momentum. The Egestorff Machine Factory, later Hanomag (Hannoversche Maschinenbau AG), produced steam locomotives. In 1866, the House of Welf was overthrown, and Hannover thus became the capital of a Prussian province. Hannover grew rapidly, becoming a major city; by 1873 it already had 100,000 inhabitants, and just under 20 years later, twice that number. Large companies, such as the Continental-Cautchouc- und Gutta-Percha Compagnie (1871) and Bahlsen (1897), were established. With 3,000 employees, the Mechanische Weberei became the largest weaving mill in Europe in 1885. In 1924, Germany’s first small car rolled off the assembly line at Hanomag: the Hanomag 2/10 PS, nicknamed “Kommissbrot.” Around the turn of the century, numerous areas were incorporated into the city, and the need for schools grew. During the Wilhelminian era, the Technical University in the Welfenschloss and the Veterinary University were established.

World War II and the Postwar Period

Hitler’s appointment as Reich Chancellor (January 30, 1933) marked the end of the Weimar Republic. The first air raids on Hannover took place in May 1940; subsequent bombings destroyed factories, residential buildings, and historic landmarks (e.g., Conti, Leinschloss, Marktkirche, the Opera House, and Herrenhausen Palace). After 88 air raids, over 50% of Hannover is destroyed; in the city center, more than 90% of the buildings are affected. Hannover becomes part of the British occupation zone. The postwar period in Hannover is overshadowed by labor shortages and forced laborers, famines, and a devastating flood (1946). The bombed-out Aegidienkirche serves as a memorial to World War II, and in the early 1950s, the spectator stands of the Niedersachsenstadion (today’s HDI-Arena) were built from 2.5 million cubic meters of rubble. In the lobby of the New City Hall, four models illustrate the city’s development—including the extent of destruction following World War II in 1945.

The days of the economic miracle

In 1946, Hannover became the capital of the newly formed state of Lower Saxony. To boost the economy, the first export fair opened in Hannover in 1947. In the years that followed, it became a symbol of the German economic miracle. The turnout was enormous, and more and more foreign exhibitors took part—as a logical consequence, Hannover-Langenhagen Airport began operations in 1952. A unique period of economic expansion began, leading to the construction of the VW Stöcken plant on the Mittelland Canal, where the VW Transporter was built in the mid-1950s. Preussag AG (now TUI) moved its headquarters to the capital of Lower Saxony and, decades later, became the world’s largest tourism group. In 1954, Hannover surpassed the 500,000-resident mark. The city was rebuilt according to a new concept, featuring multi-lane roads, expressways, and roundabouts designed for car traffic. In the city center, the Steintor–Bahnhof–Kröpcke triangle developed into a retail hub—and the groundbreaking for the subway took place (1965). That same year saw the opening of the Hannover Medical School (MHH), which today houses Germany’s largest transplant center. A year later, the city began restoration work on the destroyed Great Garden. Large housing estates were built in Hannover’s outskirts.

Hannover as a venue for expos, trade shows, events, and conferences

The trade fair in Hannover has consistently evolved in terms of its concept, offerings, and size; the exhibition grounds—comprising 26 halls, four pavilions, and featuring approximately 466,100 m² of indoor space and 58,000 m² of outdoor space—are the largest in the world. HANNOVER MESSE is a global leader—the flagship among the state capital’s numerous trade fair formats. Deutsche Messe AG, based in Hannover, ranks among the top trade fair companies and organizes leading trade fairs in a wide variety of industries worldwide. In the year 2000, approximately 18 million visitors attended the World Expo 2000 (theme: “People, Nature, and Technology – A New World Emerges”), for which the exhibition grounds underwent extensive renovation. At the same time, the city is increasingly becoming a sought-after venue for events, conferences, and congresses, featuring attractive locations such as the Convention Center, Expobahnhof, HCC, HDI-Arena, and Herrenhausen Palace.

Press photos for download:

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Copyright: HMTG

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Copyright: City of Hannover

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Copyright: HMTG/Lars Gerhardts

Download for editorial use: Image in print-ready resolution (300 dpi)
Copyright: City of Hannover

Download for editorial use: Image in print-ready resolution (300 dpi)
Copyright: Martin Kirchner/HMTG

Old town with tower of the market church

Download for editorial use: Image in print-ready resolution (300 dpi)
Copyright: Martin Kirchner/HMTG

Download for editorial use: Image in print-ready resolution (300 dpi)
Copyright: City of Hannover

Download for editorial use: Image in print-ready resolution (300 dpi)

Download for editorial use: Image in print-ready resolution (300 dpi)
Copyright: City of Hannover

Download for editorial use: Image in print-ready resolution (300 dpi)
Copyright: HMTG / Martin Kirchner