CityTrip Hamburg (English Edition) by Hans-Jürgen Fründt

Author:Hans-Jürgen Fründt
Language: deu
Format: epub
ISBN: 9783831747269
Publisher: Reise Know-How Verlag Peter Rump GmbH
Published: 2017-01-12T00:00:00+00:00

Ballinstadt **

This unique exhibition bears the subtitle “Hamburg, world of emigrants”, as millions of people emigrated through the port of Hamburg, spending their last days before departure in the so-called “Emigrant City”.

On historical land, emigrant halls have been recreated, where many emigrants spent their last days on German soil before making their journeys overseas in the beginning of the 20th century. Millions of people wanted to leave to America at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. Back then, this was only possibly by sea, which was quickly recognized as a business opportunity. First, those willing to emigrate came to Hamburg from cities all across Europe, hoping for passage to New York. It wasn’t uncommon for them to be tricked out of their savings by ruthless hosts or agents. Many of these people had to wait a very long time for transit, and when the time finally came, many travelled without any comfort at all.

The Hapag (Hamburg-Amerikanische Packetfahrt-Actien-Gesellschaft) was founded in Hamburg in 1847. It was among other things, a passenger line. It made use of screw-propeller steam ships, travelling faster and more reliably as the sailboats previously in use. Word got around: The number of emigrants coming to Hamburg grew. Cholera broke out in the city in 1892. The emigrants were made responsible for this, as they were dwelling under inhumane conditions. This was also cause for the USA to tighten its entry laws. The general director of Hapag, Albert Ballin, therefore decided to build a town for emigrants, so that they could spend their days before voyage in a safe, hygienic and above all, affordable place. It was built before Hamburg’s gates on Veddel Island in the Elbe. The town was opened for 1,200 people in 1901. Just five years later, it had to be expanded considerably. In 1913 alone, 170,000 people passed through Emigrant City, but after the USA introduced strict immigration quotas in 1921, the numbers rapidly fell. The city lost its function after 1934. Hapag returned the premises to the city of Hamburg. The original emigrant halls disappeared in subsequent years. Its last remnants were torn down at the beginning of the 1960s.

Three of these halls have been reconstructed for the sake of recreating the emigrant experience for today’s visitors. The fates of certain individuals, before departure and after arrival, can be heard at listening stations. As an example, the lodging situation and the bureaucratic struggle are explained. Then, the visitor, just as the emigrants did, would enter a ship before finally landing in an American immigration office, where another round of red tape would begin. In the end, a few successful emigrants are presented.

The whole exhibition quite descriptively depicts the challenges of emigration at that time. Those who wish may use the family research center (Familienforschungszentrum) in building 1 to search for possible family members.

> Ballinstadt, Veddeler Bogen 2, Tel. 31979160, www.ballinstadt.de, Nov–March 10am–4:30pm, April–Oct 10am–6pm, adults 12.50 €, children (5–12 years) 7 €, families 26 €

> Reaching Ballinstadt: With

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