Burschenschaft Hannovera

Burschenschaft Hannovera
FoundedMay 1848 (May 1848)
Georg August University
TypeStudentenverbindung
AffiliationIndependent
StatusActive
EmphasisBurschenschaft
ScopeLocal
MottoFreiheit durch Einigkeit, 'Freedom through unity'
PillarsGerman Unity, Democracy, Convention Principle, Tolerance, Lifelong Friendship
ColorsGreen, White, Red
SymbolCompass
Zirkel
Chapters1
NicknameGrüne Hannoveraner, 'Green Hanoverians' or Die Grünen, 'The Greens'
HeadquartersHerzberger Landstraße 9
Göttingen, Lower Saxony 37085
Germany
Websitewww.burschenschaft-hannovera.de

Burschenschaft Hannovera is the oldest Burschenschaft, a traditional liberal German Student fraternity or student corporation (Studentenverbindung). It incorporated in Göttingen in 1848 at the Georg August University of Göttingen.Hannovera is a lifelong bond (Lebensbund), which brings together students and alumni of Göttingen University. It is the only one of the classic German fraternities ever to include a woman: opera singer Jenny Lind.[1]

History

Burschenschaft Hannovera formed at the Georg August University of Göttingen in the Revolution year 1848 (May). The founders were graduates of the lyceum in Hanover who were studying at Göttingen.

After almost 100 years of successful growth, Hannovera was forced into dissolution in the Third Reich by order Br.-Nr. II C–1462/39 of the secret state police (Gestapo) Hildesheim, dated April 28, 1939.[2] During World War II, 26 members lost their lives at the front or in captivity.[3] In February 1951, Hannovera was reconstituted as an active covenant by a group of young students and has been active until today.[4]

For more than a hundred years, Hannovera has been part of the green-white-red fraternity cartel formed in 1869 with Germania Jena, Frankonia Heidelberg, and later also Derendingia Tübingen.[5]

Symbols

Hannovera was chosen as its name because the founders were citizens of the Kingdom of Hanover. Hannoveras couleurs are "green-white-red" with a silver lining. All members wear the same ribbon. The cap is green with green-white-red. Following the color of the caps, the members of the fraternity are traditionally called Grüne Hannoveraner, 'Green Hanoverians' or Die Grünen, 'The Greens'[6] Members also wear a tassel and a compass.[7]

In addition to the motto of all old Burschenschaft, Ehre, Freiheit, Vaterland, 'Honor, Freedom, Fatherland'[8] Hannovera bears its own motto, Freiheit durch Einigkeit, 'Freedom through unity'. It follows the democratic tradition of the Urburschenschaft, following common pillars or principles of German unity, democracy, convention principle, tolerance, and lifelong friendship (Lebensbund). It also preserves the principle of facultative academic fencing.[9]

Club house

Since 1908, Hannovera has owned its club house (Grünenhaus), located in Göttingen, Herzberger Landstraße 9.[10] It is now a Listed Building of Special Architectural and Historic Interest.[10] It also houses a small student dormitory and is surrounded by a private garden.[10] The house used to belong to the Protestant theologian Albrecht Ritschl.[11]

Membership

Hannovera is a lifelong bond (Lebensbund), which brings together students and alumni of Göttingen University. It is the only one of the classic German fraternities ever to include a woman: the opera singer Jenny Lind.[1]

Notable members

Further reading

  • Carl Römpler: Versuch einer Geschichte (history) der Burschenschaft Hannovera Göttingen, Dieterich’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Göttingen 1897.
  • Theo Lampmann: Geschichte (history) der Burschenschaft Hannovera-Göttingen seit Anfang der neunziger Jahre bis 1928, Druck von C.V. Engelhard, Hannover 1928.
  • Henning Tegtmeyer:[12] Geschichte (history) der Burschenschaft Hannovera 1928–1945. WJK-Verlag, Hilden 2009, ISBN 978-3-940891-28-0.
  • Henning Tegtmeyer: Mitgliederverzeichnis (List of members) der Burschenschaft Hannovera Göttingen 1848–1998. Self-published, Düsseldorf 1998.

Notes

  1. ^ a b Holland, Henry Scott; Rockstro, William Smith: Memoir of madame Jenny Lind-Goldschmidt. Her early art-life and dramatic career, 1820 to 1851. From Original Documents, Letters, Ms. Diaries & C., Collected By Mr. Otto Goldschmidt. London 1891. Page 412/413: ... no wonder that the Goettingen students lost their heads that evening. She was elected, by the enthusiastic students, a member of a famous guild of theirs, known as the "Burschenschaft Hannovera" which, at that particular date, was enjoying a period of special success. She became a "Sister-Associate" and was presented with the red, white, and green ribbon of the guild. Her portrait was hung up in their Assembly Room. ... She wrote, on 13 February, the following reply "Gentlemen, I accept, with sincere gratitude, the ribbon which you have sent me and shall preserve it faithfully to my dying day. Even without this outward token, the 5th of February 1850, would have remained engraven on my memory with indelible letters of gold, but, nevertheless, I regard the ribbon with pride and joy, well aware of the honour thereby conferred upon me. ..." She was faithful to her word: for the ribbon was found, preserved among her memorials, after her death.
  2. ^ Transl. from German: Dissolution order: On basis of § 1 of the decree of the President of the Reich for the protection of the people and the state of 28 February 1933 (RGBl. p. 83), the "Hannover" fraternity in Göttingen and its club house building society are hereby dissolved, the assets are confiscated and any further activity as well as the founding or formation of a camouflaged successor organisation is prohibited. Violations will be punished in accordance with § 4 of the aforementioned regulation. - Reasons: Despite repeated efforts, the fraternity "Hannover" and its Hausbauverein (fraternity house association) so far have refused any active participation in the reconstruction of the student body. In particular, only a small percentage of the members of these associations have declared their accession to the NS-Altherrenbund and thus sabotaged the efforts of the deputy of the Führer and the Reichsführer SS.
  3. ^ listed at War Memorial Website here
  4. ^ H.-G. Balder: Die Deutsche(n) Burschenschaft(en) Hilden 2005, page 168
  5. ^ H. Tegtmeyer: Geschichte der Burschenschaft Hannovera 1928–1945, 2.6. Das Grün-weiß-rote Kartell, page 57ff
  6. ^ B. Schroeter: Leben und Streben dem Vaterland - die Geschichte der Burschenschaft Germania zu Jena Göttingen 1996, 1.2.49 Die Rekonstituierung der Burschenschaft Hannovera, page 148, ISBN 978-3-931229-03-0
  7. ^ "Home | Burschenschaft Hannovera". B! Hannovera (in German). Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  8. ^ Incorporating text from a work of public domain: Carl Schurz (1913). Edward Manley (ed.). Lebenserinnerungen Bis zum Jahre 1850: Selections. With notes and vocabulary. Norwood, Massachusetts: Allyn and Bacon. p. 204.
  9. ^ "Geschichte | Burschenschaft Hannovera zu Göttingen". burschenschaft-hannovera.de (in German). Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  10. ^ a b c Lampmann, Geschichte der Burschenschaft Hannovera ... page 166
  11. ^ "Stadtarchiv Göttingen, Homepage".
  12. ^ Henning Tegtmeyer (german)
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