Wondering about the story behind this place? This is the Annastift in Hannover. It is more than just a hospital. It is a place with a rich history rooted in compassion.
In 1891 Anna Freifrau von Borries laid the foundation for the Annastift. She donated 5,000 Mark. This donation was for the “education and care” of young people with physical disabilities. Anna von Borries’s gift was the cornerstone of what stands here today.
The Annastift officially opened on November 7 1897. Eleven children moved into a newly built house. It was located on Heimchenstraße in Hannover-Kleefeld. A deaconess cared for them. The children received education and training here.
The architect Heinrich Wegener designed the original building. It was located on Kirchröder Straße. Today, that street is Anna-von-Borries-Straße. Disabled children and teenagers received medical care and education at the Annastift. They also received vocational training. Some learned to be basket makers. Others became brush makers, tailors, or seamstresses.
Dr. Peter Bade led the medical team from 1901 to 1923. He introduced X-ray diagnostics at the Annastift. In 1926 and 1927 the main building was expanded. The architect Werner Koech designed the expansion.
During both World Wars, the Annastift served as a military hospital. In the Weimar Republic, it became an orthopedic hospital. It had about 450 beds.
Under increasing pressure after 1933, non-Aryan medical staff were dismissed. This included the chief physician, Bruno Valentin. No forced sterilizations occurred at the Annastift. However, authorities were informed about those affected. Fortunately, no patients of the Annastift fell victim to Nazi euthanasia.
After the bombings of Hannover during World War II the Annastift was the only undamaged hospital in Hannover. In 1950, a new building with 195 beds was constructed. Funds came from the State of Lower Saxony and donations from the USA.
In 2006 the Annastift joined the Henriettenstiftung and the Friederikenstift. Together, they formed Diakonische Dienste Hannover GmbH. Since January 1 2016, it is known as DIAKOVERE.
Today the Annastift is a modern rehabilitation center. It cares for people with disabilities and orthopedic conditions. It has five specialized departments. The Orthopedic Clinic of the Hannover Medical School is located here. It is one of Germany’s largest orthopedic clinics.
The Annastift also includes the Mira Lobe School. It is a state-approved all-day school for children and adolescents with physical disabilities. There are also schools for social and health professions. Housing and care services are provided. A vocational training center is also part of the Annastift.
The Annastift continues to honor Anna von Borries’s legacy. It acts on Christian values. The Annastift strives to provide excellent care. It embodies the motto: “The motive is faith the act is love.”