Recall the year 1919. It marks the beginning of the Hamburger Burschenschaft Germania. This student association holds a unique place in Hamburg’s history.
The Hamburger Burschenschaft Germania’s story starts with the plans to found a Burschenschaft in Hamburg. This occurred at the Hamburg Kolonialinstitut. The founding was delayed by World War I. It finally happened on April 19, 1919. Members of the Hamburger Vereinigung Alter Burschenschafter were responsible.
The Hamburger Burschenschaft Germania quickly gained recognition. On August 8, 1919 it was accepted into the Deutsche Burschenschaft. This happened without a trial period. Many members of VAB Hamburg joined. By the winter semester of 1930 or 1931, it had over 100 Alte Herren and more than 50 active members. This made it one of Hamburg’s strongest associations.
During National Socialism, the Hamburger Burschenschaft Germania was integrated into the NSDStB in 1935. This was reversed in 1936. The group continued as Kameradschaft Otto von Bismarck. This was with other Hamburg Burschenschaften. Albert Suhr belonged to this group. He was a member of the Weiße Rose Hamburg resistance. Twenty members of the Germania died in World War II. In 1943 a bombing raid destroyed the Germanenhaus.
After the war, in 1947, activities resumed within the Akademischer Kreis Universität Hamburg. In 1949, the Altherrenschaften of Germania Hamburg formed the Ostwestdeutscher Bund. This was with Burschenschaften expelled from eastern Germany. Germania formed a fusion with Germania Halle from 1953. It then became Halle-Hamburger Burschenschaft Germania. Germania Halle reopened independently in Mainz in 1959. The Hamburger Burschenschaft Germania then reverted to its original name.
In 1961, the Hamburger Burschenschaft Germania co-founded the Burschenschaftliche Gemeinschaft. Germania held the chair of the Deutsche Burschenschaft in 1986. Members of the Hamburger Germania and Frankonia Erlangen founded Franco-Germania in Halle or Saale in 1993. This merged with Alte Leobener Burschenschaft Germania zu Clausthal in 1999. It is now Halle-Leobener Burschenschaft Germania. The Hamburger Germania maintains a friendship with this group.
In 2006, the Hamburger Burschenschaft Germania sought a new “burschenschaftlich-politische Ausrichtung.” This included support for Germans in minority regions and resistance against multiculturalism. The Hamburger Burschenschaft Germania remains a member of the Deutsche Burschenschaft. It held the chair in 2016. It is the only Hamburg Burschenschaft in the Burschenschaftliche Gemeinschaft. It held the chair in the 2012 or 2013 business year.
The Germanenhaus was the Germania’s house on Sierichstrasse 23. It was acquired in 1959. The Gesinnungsgemeinschaft der Neuen Front met there. The Identitäre Bewegung also used it as a meeting point. The Burschenschaft sold the house in early 2022. They moved to Jüthornstraße 104 in Hamburg-Marienthal.
The Hamburger Burschenschaft Germania forms the Schwarz-Weiß-Rotes Kartell. This is a community of like-minded Burschenschaften. They have friendships with Burschenschaft Olympia Wien and Halle-Leobener Burschenschaft Germania.
The Hamburger Burschenschaft Germania faced scrutiny. It was mentioned in Verfassungsschutz reports from 2014 to 2021. In 2020, a court deemed the mention unlawful. The Hamburger Burschenschaft Germania has hosted controversial speakers. These include David Irving and Jürgen Rieger.
The colors of the Hamburger Burschenschaft Germania are gold-red-black. The motto is “Ehre, Freiheit, Vaterland!” This reflects the values it upholds. The Hamburger Burschenschaft Germania continues to be a part of Hamburg’s history.