English abstract

Burschenschaft Hannovera is the oldest Burschenschaft, a traditional liberal German Student fraternity or student corporation, incorporated in Göttingen in May of the Revolution year 1848 (May) at the Georg August University of Göttingen. The founding group was a circle of graduates from the lyceum in Hanover who were studying in Göttingen. Hannovera was chosen as name because the founders where citizens of the Kingdom of Hanover. 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: Swedish Nightingale Jenny Lind.

History

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. As a result of World War II, 26 members lost their lives at the front or in captivity.
In February 1951, Hannovera was reconstituted as an active covenant by a group of young students and has been active until today.

Principles

In addition to the motto of all old Burschenschaft, Ehre, Freiheit, Vaterland (i.e. „Honor, Freedom, Fatherland“), Hannovera bears its own motto, Freiheit durch Einigkeit (i.e. „Freedom through unity“) and therefore stands in the democratic tradition of the Urburschenschaft, follows common principles of German unity, democracy, convention principle, tolerance and livelong friendship (Lebensbund). It also preserves the principle of facultative academic fencing.

Couleur

Hannoveras colours (couleur) are „green-white-red“ with 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 (i.e. „Green Hanoverians“) or, in inner (fraternity) circles, simply Die Grünen (i.e.“The Greens“).

Own house

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

Cartel

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

Some notable members