Did you know that Gymnasium Blankenese was founded in 1892? It began as a Realschule for boys during the German Empire. This was only 20 years after Wilhelm I became Kaiser. The school’s history is well-documented except for the Nazi period.
After 1945, it was known as Wissenschaftliche Oberschule f\u00fcr Jungen. Admission required an entrance exam. Today, Gymnasium Blankenese is a state-run school for both boys and girls. It focuses on modern languages.
The school buildings and sports facilities are near Kirschtenstra\u00dfe and Oesterleystra\u00dfe. They are about 500 meters west of the Hamburg-Blankenese S-Bahn station. Hessepark and Go\u00dflers Park are also nearby. These parks are sometimes used for sports classes.
Gymnasium Blankenese started on April 22, 1892. Local community representatives founded it as a higher education institution for boys. Propst Paulsen supported the initiative. The provincial college in Schleswig approved the new Realschule on August 22. Classes began on October 10, 1892. The school used a temporary building on Parkstra\u00dfe, now called Am Kiekeberg. Three teachers taught 75 students in three classes. Propst Paulsen was the initial head of the Realschule.
In July 1893, they laid the foundation for a new school building on Lindenstra\u00dfe, now Kirschtenstra\u00dfe. The new building opened in July 1894. Walther Kirschten became the new director at the same time.
In 1894, a red brick building was constructed on Oesterleystra\u00dfe. In 1906, a private school for girls, founded in 1890, moved into its new building. The community of Blankenese had been involved with this school since 1904. The girls’ school was located slightly south of the boys’ Realschule. Both schools kept their traditional architecture through both World Wars. Today, the buildings are connected. Architectural styles include Wilhelminian brick historicism, Jugendstil, and postwar modernism.
From the start, Gymnasium Blankenese aimed to provide practical skills. Sons of local families could prepare for careers in trade, commerce, and shipping. A school leaving certificate also allowed for one year of voluntary military service. This was preferable to three years of compulsory service. It also opened the path to becoming an officer.
In 1952, the school acquired a swimming pool for sports. In 1968, Gymnasium Blankenese began admitting both boys and girls. In 1977, a connecting wing was built between the main building and the former girls’ school. Extensive renovations took place between 2005 and 2006. An extension in 2017 added four classrooms.
Since 2010, a Stolperstein has been placed in front of the school. It commemorates Bruno Nehmert, a teacher who criticized the Nazi regime. Nehmert died in 1945 after being sent to concentration camps.
Fabian H\u00f6fer, a student at Gymnasium Blankenese, won an award in 2017 for his digital roulette project. In 2018, the school’s cross-country skiing group won first place at the Hamburg Championships.
Many notable people have attended or taught at Gymnasium Blankenese. These include Detlef B\u00fcckmann, a zoologist, and Manfred Eisele, a general who served with the United Nations. Linda Schultz, a writer, taught German, art, and geography there. Oscar Algner, the oldest member of Hamburger SV, was also a student. Frank Ulrich Montgomery, president of the German Medical Association, is an alumnus. Nina Chuba, a singer and actress, attended the school. Annaliese Teetz, Germany’s first female captain, taught geography and sports.
Gymnasium Blankenese, with its rich history and commitment to education, continues to shape the future of its students. The school’s motto, “Fair play is more than just a game” shows a commitment to values.