Hamburg

Germany's second largest city with a population of 2,000,000, Hamburg is a major port on the River Elbe in the north of Germany, the second largest harbour in Europe and ninth largest worldwide.

The city dates its origins to the establishment of a fort by Charlemagne in AD 808. Much of the historic city centre was destroyed in raids by the allied air forces in July and August 1943 during which some 50,000 people perished.

As well as being a major transport hub, Hamburg is a centre of aircraft production, shipbuilding, the steel, copper and aluminium industries, and publishing.

Hamburg is also famous for its night-life, the Reeperbahn being the pivotal street in the Kiez district, where popular beat combo The Beatles cut their teeth.

The current mayor, Oberbürgermeister Ole von Beust, is a Christian Democrat. He was perhaps the first prominent politician to be outed by his father.[1]

Hamburg is the point of import of all Germany's bananas.