A dark chapter of Hamburg’s history began right here at Station II. For more than 7,000 North German citizens, this station became the starting point of a journey without return. Let’s delve into the past of this place now known as Station II.
Originally, the routes from the Hannoverschen Bahnhof led from Hamburg to Paris and St. Petersburg. But in fact, the route to Hanover became the main connection. This is why it was renamed Hannoverscher Bahnhof in 1892. The Hannoversche Bahnhof, initially called Venloer Bahnhof, was also known as Parisian station. It has been used for very different purposes since its opening.
In its early years, emigrants and returnees were dispatched from here. These people returned to their home countries after years in the United States. In 1906, the newly opened Hamburg Hauptbahnhof completely replaced it as a passenger station. Station II became a freight yard connecting Hamburg with the south. It also served as reserve capacity for special tasks. For example, it transported troops and wounded soldiers during the First World War. During those times, the waiting rooms were used as dormitories.
The years 1940 to 1945 mark a dark period for Station II. It became a deportation station. From here, Jews, Roma, and Sinti were deported to ghettos and concentration camps. After 1950, the station became the main freight station once again.
With the development of HafenCity, the history of the former Hannoversche Bahnhof has resurfaced. A few hundred meters from the train station, fruit shed C at Magdeburger Hafen served as a collection point for Roma and Sinti before their deportation.
Today, more than 70 years after the last deportation train left the Hannoversche Bahnhof, the “Fugue” serves as a memorial. Here, the listed platform 2 can be found as a historic platform mile. Parallel to the track are 20 memorial plaques bearing the names of more than 7,000 known deportees. Each plaque represents one of the 20 railway transports that departed between 1940 and 1945. These trains went to ghettos and extermination camps in Eastern and Central Europe.
The location of the Hannoversche Bahnhof was convenient for the Nazi authorities. The deportation preparations did not interfere with the main station’s operations. There was also more room for connecting and disconnecting wagons from other cities. Various state authorities and organizations ensured the smooth running of the deportations. The Secret State Police, the Ordnungspolizei, the Oberfinanzpräsidium, and the Reichsbahn were responsible. They closely coordinated the deportations of Jews.
The architect and engineer Hermann Lohse designed today’s Elbe bridges. The Lohseplatz, named after him, was once the site of the Hannoversche Bahnhof. In 1955, the railway broke the severely damaged main portal of the station. The remaining shed buildings were still used for freighting purposes.
Standing here leaves a strange aftertaste. Realizing what happened to people here while seeing carefree activity around you creates a difficult feeling.
The Research Center for Contemporary History in Hamburg has developed documentation on the deportations from the former Hannoverschen Bahnhof. Between 1940 and 1945, at least 7,112 people were deported from Station II. Almost 90 percent of these deportees were murdered or died due to terrible living conditions.
The Hannoversche Bahnhof was a “station of hope” for tens of thousands of people on their way to America. It was also a “station of death” for thousands of Jews. The Nazi officials chose it as a deportation station for two reasons. The deportation preparations did not interfere with the station’s sparse use. Also, the station’s absence shielded the deportations from the public eye.