Doesn’t the name Neugraben-Fischbek sound like two villages joined together? Well, you are not wrong. Neugraben-Fischbek is a quarter of Hamburg. It belongs to the borough of Harburg. This quarter comprises the old settlements of Neugraben and Fischbek. It also includes the more recent area called Neuwiedenthal.
Let’s dive into the history of Neugraben-Fischbek. Fischbek was first documented in 1544. It was known then as Vischbecke. Neugraben followed suit. Both became part of Hamburg in 1937.
However, Neugraben bears a darker mark in its history. A subcamp of the Nazi concentration camp Neuengamme was located here. This subcamp opened on September 13, 1944. It was specifically for women. Five hundred Czech-Jewish women arrived from the Ghetto Theresienstadt. They were deported to Auschwitz. The SS selected these women for labor in Hamburg.
Life in the Neugraben camp was brutal. The women built auxiliary homes. They laid supply pipes. They constructed streets in the Falkenbergsiedlung neighborhood. During the final months of World War II, their work shifted. Some women cleared debris in Harburg’s oil industry. Others dug antitank obstacles in Hausbruch. In February 1945, the SS moved the women. They were transferred to the Hamburg-Tiefstack camp. Later, they were sent to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
Neugraben-Fischbek’s geography is quite diverse. It sits southeast of Neuenfelde. Francop is to the northeast. Hausbruch lies to the east. To the south is the Harburg district of Lower Saxony. A large part of the quarter is the Harburger Berge nature reserve. This makes Neugraben-Fischbek a mix of rural and suburban landscapes. The quarter spans 22.5 square kilometers.
Did you know that the highest point in Hamburg is located in Neugraben-Fischbek? It’s called the Hasselbrack. It rises 116.2 meters above sea level.
In 2006, Neugraben-Fischbek had a population of 27,103. The population density was 1,204 people per square kilometer. Children under 18 made up 19% of the population. Those 65 and older accounted for 21.4%. Non-Germans comprised 10.1% of the residents. At that time, 1,644 people were unemployed.
Transportation in Neugraben-Fischbek is convenient. The city train system serves the area. Stations are located in both Neugraben and Fischbek. This makes commuting to and from the quarter easy.
Today, Neugraben-Fischbek stands as a testament to resilience. It is a blend of historical layers and natural beauty. It reminds us of both the shadows and the heights that define its story.