“Do you know why this school stands almost untouched, while everything around it was destroyed?” This is Schule Hasselbrook. It is more than just a place of learning. It is a survivor.
Schule Hasselbrook’s story starts in 1901 with planning. Albert Erbe, a construction inspector, presented the design. The first stone was laid in 1905. By 1907, the school was open. Schule Hasselbrook was originally two schools in one. There was a school for girls on Hasselbrookstrasse. And a school for boys on Ritterstrasse.
Even in 1939, boys and girls learned separately. Then came 1943 and Operation Gomorrha. The surrounding area was devastated by air raids. But Schule Hasselbrook survived. Locals and air raid wardens defended it. They put out 32 incendiary bombs. They threw burning items from the roof. The nearby Gauführerschule was completely destroyed. But Schule Hasselbrook stood firm.
In 1945, the boys’ and girls’ schools merged. It became a co-educational school. Over time, it evolved. It became a primary, secondary and vocational school. Later, the school became solely a primary school.
Two pavilions were added in 1960. A gym followed in 1965. The Seitzhalle offered even more space for sports. The main building has an L-shape. Its facade features gables. The facade is decorated with sandstone. The building stands as a proud example of architectural style. Ralf Lange called it representative Neobarock. It echoes Hamburg’s 18th-century architecture.
The school has two gyms. One is connected to the old building. The other is the Seitzhalle. There is also an underground shelter. It has a larch wood-covered entrance.
From 2010 to 2015, the school was renovated. The cafeteria was modernized. The renovation cost over 7 million euros. In 2022, plans were made to demolish the pavilions. A new four-story building will take their place. It will have classrooms, a kitchen, and a movement room. Today, Schule Hasselbrook teaches hundreds of students. Dagmar Lucks leads the school.
Schule Hasselbrook is more than bricks and mortar. It is a testament to resilience. It is a place where children spend their childhood. They learn, make friends and grow. It has seen war and change. It continues to educate future generations. The school’s address is Ritterstrasse 44. It stands at the corner of Hasselbrookstrasse. The Friedenskirche is nearby. The school is a landmark in Eilbek. Its story is etched in its walls. Its spirit lives on in its students.