Greater Hamburg Ordinance

Germany [1937]

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June 29, 2026

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The Greater Hamburg Ordinance, enacted on January 26, 1937, was a significant administrative reform that allowed Hamburg to incorporate the neighboring cities of Altona, Wandsbek, and Harburg. These cities had previously belonged to Prussia. This ordinance expanded Hamburg's territory and potential for development, though the onset of World War II in 1939 disrupted these plans. The war caused extensive damage to Hamburg, destroying a large portion of its residential areas and harbor installations, and resulting in a significant loss of life.1

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Hamburg
Evolution of the modern city
The Greater Hamburg Ordinance of January 26, 1937, changed this situation by allowing Hamburg to incorporate the neighbouring cities of Altona, Wandsbek, and Harburg, which until then had belonged to Prussia. The immediate prospect of expansion, with the development of these areas on a basis of…
Read More
The Greater Hamburg Ordinance of January 26, 1937, changed this situation by allowing Hamburg to incorporate the neighbouring cities of Altona, Wandsbek, and Harburg, which until then had belonged to Prussia. The immediate prospect of expansion, with the development of these areas on a basis of…
Read More