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The Hamburg Colonial Institute was the first institute of higher education to be established in Hamburg, Germany. Founded on 20 October 1908, the institute was intended to specialise in the "colonial sciences" to bolster the economic value of Imperial Germany's colonial holdings.

Foundation
Throughout the 1820s, the establishment of a university in Hamburg, Germany, was considered. Although the idea was politically unworkable during the 19th century, support continued to grow, with High School Authority and later First Mayor of Hamburg Werner von Melle beginning to advocate in favour from 1900. He, however, had reservations concerning the financial aspects of the establishment and running of such an institute.

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The colonial service hired the officials not only in terms of theirs physical fitness ("tropical fitness") but also in Reference to knowledge and skills (languages, knowledge of the cultural and economic conditions in the colonies, high Flexibility) very special demands. With the growing importance The colonies were increasing the demand for a better one Training of officials posted to the colonies.

A colonial school preparing for a colonial career, be it as a civil servant or as a farmer, there were relatively few in the German Reich late. While in France since 1889 with the "Ecole Coloniale" its own college for the training of colonial officials was set up in Germany at the beginning of the colonial era Believing that the service in the colonies themselves is the best education. At most the linguistic education was opened by the 1887 Oriental Seminar of the Friedrich-Wilhelms-University in Berlin promoted. Only with the entry into service Bernhard Dernburgs this changed Situation. He massively advocated a better education of the colonial officials before being sent to the colonies. At his suggestion was in Hamburg built the colonial institute, Halle received one Colonial Academy, Leipzig the "Colonial Agricultural School" and in Witzenhausen on the Werra became the "German colonial school Wilhelmshof

Hamburg was a commercial metropolis in the 19th century Merchants and shipowners the social leadership formed. As a sovereign city republic, in which the administration is completely alone in In the hands of the citizens, they developed a specific political Own tradition. Their economic and social structure was largely of shaped the needs of the long-distance and overseas trade. by virtue of the business bourgeoisie oriented itself more strongly on the world market than on the urban hinterland and the German inland area. At all The economic and political questions that emerged became the view first directed overseas. The overseas merchant saw his task especially in the development of overseas markets and their Usage for the Hamburg trade. The social Life in the city did not remain untouched: the social and cultural institutions, the association, the bourgeois lifestyle were from the money and the interests of the merchant Upper class determined. The pronounced orientation of Hamburg on trade and shipping, had also affect the composition of the government. Of the 18 Senate members of the Hanseatic city were regularly one half Lawyers, the other merchants; The same was true for the citizenship. The close relationship between merchants and government was also symbolized by the fact that Chamber of Commerce, Stock Exchange and Town Hall formed a structural unit. For centuries, that was Division of tasks clear: The Chamber of Commerce formulated the representation of the Kaufmannschaft the Hamburg business interests, and the Senate had to worry about the political implementation. In Germany, colonial courses were offered at the Berlin Institute for Oriental Languages, founded in 1887, and at the University of Berlin. The Hamburg Colonial Institute, established in 1908, offered a well-rounded colonial education.

The development of the Hamburg education system can be divided into three phases subdivide: the time of existence of the Academic Gymnasium from 1613 to 1883, the time of the General Lecture of 1883 until 1908 and the period from 1908 to the founding of the University, in the next to the lecture the colonial institute stepped. The educational system was in 1871 the secondary school authority subordinated and managed by him in four sections: Section One: Scientific Institutions, Section Two: Higher Education, Section Three: elementary schools and section four: private schools. In the time of Empire came it (among other things due to the introduction of the compulsory education 1870) to a massive expansion of the people and Vocational schools but also scientific institutions. In the first Half of the 19th century was a private initiative Series of scientific institutions founded by the state later took over. In addition to the schools and their associated facilities But also clubs and other interest groups played an important role Role in the Hamburg education system. To name here are for example The Patriotic Society founded in 1765. Also enjoyed, well due to the extensive trade relations, the geography great Look at. Thus, the Commerzdeputation supported several scientific Expeditions of different character. In 1873, the "Geographical Society in Hamburg" was founded. Among its members were many colonial merchants, the their factories in the colonies as a starting point for the of the Society organized expeditions or for missionary societies provided. Through the reports of the expedition participants, the in the "Mitteilungen der Geographischen Gesellschaft in Hamburg" were published, the colonial discussion revived and became the Aroused interest in foreign countries. Often the researchers also closed already the first friendship and trade contracts with the Locals and thereby opened up new trading opportunities respectively created the bases for the later annexation by the empire.

Until the early modern era, the foundation of a university was considered a privilege spiritual or secular princes. Free cities had at best over an academic grammar school, which after completion of the Scholarship School taught the subject matter of the Faculty of Arts and so prepared for the university visit. The hamburger Academic high school, however, lost in the late 18th century due to structural changes [cf. Chapter 2.2.1] and thereby opened the discussion about the founding of a university. Since the 1820s, university plans have been repeatedly discussed but also rejected again and again. For example, in 1846, the Senate syndicus Karl Sieveking with the plan of a foundation university the public. In 1847 the "Provisional Comité zur Vorberathung about a university to be founded in Hamburg "into life called. The committee developed a plan on the main features, the Scope and funding of a university and hired him in July of Year before the public. Despite careful preparations failed but also this initiative. For one thing, the collection of the Foundation funds more difficult than expected, because of the reconstruction Hamburg after the great fire of 1842 tied up a lot of funding were. On the other hand, the university plan went in the course of the beginning Revolution of 1848 just under, as many committee members are now the disputes over the Hamburg Constitution. Even as in the fifties of the 19th century the political Climate in Hamburg calmed down, the work of the committee was not resumed. In addition, the economic crises hit the following Years Hamburg particularly strong and tied up further financial resources. Only when the construction of the free port ended and the shock of the cholera epidemic of 1892 was overcome, set against the background of great success of the General Lecture the discussion about a University foundation again. Parallel to this, the Founding of a commercial college or an overseas academy discussed. As a special supporter of the University thought proved Werner von Melle. He had been elected to the Senate in 1891 as Syndicus and officiated since 1900 as a senator. In both functions he was under other things for the scientific institutions and the general Lectureship. Under him, both were further expanded and equipped with larger financial and staff resources. In parallel he tried in many conversations with friends and acquaintances, the To spread university thoughts. As a result, 1907 was the Hamburg Scientific Foundation founded. The majority of merchants as well as influential circles in Senate and Citizenship were also against the founding of a University. They saw no need for a scientific one Training prospective merchants and feared a loss Social prestige, if the number of academics facilitated by one Access to university education should increase. In addition, shy the costs associated with setting up a university. Also after the foundation of a lecture building by Edmund Siemers and the Establishment of the Colonial Institute in 1908 showed the University opponents little compromise readiness

The Hamburg Scientific Foundation was founded on 10.4.1907 Suggestion Werner von Melles founded. The foundation capital was nearly four million marks and was exclusively through donations applied. The aim of the foundation was to promote the sciences of the granting of financial resources by the Senate and citizenship to be independent. From the interest of the foundation capital should the scientific life in Hamburg be promoted, for example through the appointment of scholars for the General Lecture, the funding of research trips and exhibitions but also by promoting scientific publications. The statutes of Foundation forbade the assumption of duties of the state, such as For example, the hiring of assistants or the purchase of Collections. But it allowed the establishment of a university or a other college of general character if the foundation capital grown accordingly. In connection with the founding of the Hamburg scientific Foundation provided Edmund Siemers with the financial resources for the urgently needed lecture building for the general Lectures available.

It took the form of new disciplines: the “colonial sciences,” that is to say “colonial geography,” “colonial history,” “colonial law,” “colonial economics,” and “colonial sociology.” In European capitals as well as colonial ports, academics, high-ranking civil servants, and businessmen joined together to found new chairs, educational and research institutions, specialized journals, and scholarly societies. The “colonial sciences” hesitated between three different and even contradictory objectives: to construct a disinterested and autonomous science, to contribute to the proper administrative functioning and economic prosperity of colonies by providing tools and collections of best practices, and finally to legitimize the colonial work of each nation by supporting the “humanitarian” and “civilizing” dimension of colonization.