The Kingdom of Steam

The Hamburg, Germany, of 1933 must have been impressive in its skyscrapers, steamships, railroad system, and multitude of factories.  Author Frederick Simpich details its wonders in the June, 1933, National Geographic Magazine article, Hamburg Speaks With Steam Sirens.  Hamburg is Germany's port to the North Sea and to the world.  It is inland, on the Elbe River.  "The Elbe, navigable for 456 miles, with its canals and tributaries, gives Hamburg easy, cheap water communications with regions as distant as Czechoslovakia, eastern Poland, and the Baltic countries," (p. 739).

Impressive, unusual buildings in Hamburg include St. Nicholas Church (Nikolai-Kirche), built in the 12th century, with its tower of 482 feet, the tallest edifice in the world at the time.  "The use of the open square before the church as a market place is an ancient practice, commonly followed also in the Philippines and Latin America," (photo caption, p. 732).  I was sad to check that it is in ruins now, having been bombed in World War II.

Hamburg's subway system of that era was 77 feet below the surface.  People and vehicles had to be lowered in elevators.  Hamburg citizens are called "Hamburgers."  "Hamburgers, like the English, walk for pleasure. . . Germans take their pleasures seriously.  Sport is highly organized so that fun-making may function smoothly, like electric cargo cranes in the harbor!" (p. 741).

This was a pleasant article of many black-and-white photos.  The author concluded, "As in olden days her sailing ships pioneered the Seven Seas, so now her liners, freighters, and tankers follow every ocean lane and her voice is the sound of steamers whistling," (p. 744).