“Utslag” whispers the wind across the Zweite Ausschläger Brücke. This isn’t just any bridge. This is a piece of Hamburg’s working-class soul. Built in 1903 the Zweite Ausschläger Brücke spans the Südkana. It’s a sturdy steel structure a bow gracefully arching over the water.
The name Ausschläger Weg itself tells a story. “Utslag” in Low German means the land seaward of the dike. Farmers once used this area for pasture. In winter the Elbe and Bille rivers often flooded it. This bridge connected them to the rest of the city.
The Zweite Ausschläger Brücke is the larger of two bridges crossing the canals. Measuring 28 meters long it dwarfs its smaller sibling built a decade later. Note the concrete wing walls flanking the steel archwork. They’re faced with Muschelkalk basalt lava and Bockhorner clinkers. These details speak of a time when craftsmanship mattered.
The bridge wasn’t simply a utilitarian structure. It became a symbol. Austrian artist Alfred Hofmann created two Muschelkalk figures. “Rest” depicted children with their mother. “Work” showed a laborer with a hammer. They embodied the spirit of the working-class neighborhood. Sadly “Rest” was destroyed during World War II. Only “Work” remains a poignant reminder of a bygone era.
Today the Zweite Ausschläger Brücke quietly serves its purpose. Cars and pedestrians cross its span. It’s a testament to the history of Hammerbrook a subtle nod to the past. This unassuming bridge is more than steel and stone. It’s a symbol of resilience and the enduring spirit of a community. It’s a bridge to the past a pathway to the present a quiet sentinel watching over Hamburg. Don’t just see it feel the history woven into its very fabric.