Albert Ballin (* 15 August 1857 in Hamburg; "† 9 November 1918) was a Hamburg shipowner and one of the most important Jewish persons of the German empire. It was creditors Jew and at the same time German Patriot. In addition, he spoke port-flatly, controlled high German and English flowing.

Life

As the youngest of 13 brothers and sisters Albert Ballin was born 1857 in Hamburg. Its parents had immigrated from Denmark and its father "Samuel Joseph "Ballin (1804-1874), which by that Hamburg fire became without means, 1852 the emigrant agency "Morris & CO "in Hamburg had created. 1874 after the death of the father it had to enter with 17 into the business. it received power of attorney to 1875 and became 1879 partners with Morris & CO. The company continued to obtain emigration-willing ship passages to England and to North America. 1881 took over Morris & CO the passage agency that Hamburg Carr line, which later formed the union line with the Sloman line. 17% of all emigrations into the USA were obtained 1882 by Morris & CO. Starting from 1899 he was a general manager of the HAPAG and made from the enterprise the largest navigation line of the world.

Ballin died by Suizid.

Work

On Albert Ballins suggestion the tween decks in such a way specified on the overseas passenger liners developed, in order to be able to transport the emigrants more cheaply and better. It described the economical attractiveness of the mass business with the words "without tween deck passengers would be I within fewer weeks bankruptcy ". 1886 were large the competition between the union line and the Hamburg America line HAPAG in the emigrant business and the competitors divided the market under itself. To these arrangements 1886 Guido Wolff of the executive committee of the union line changed into the executive committee of the HAPAG (there until 1907). In the same year Albert Ballin became after the assumption of the Carr line by HAPAG director/conductor of the passage department there. 1887 inserted Ballin the express service Hamburg - New York and 1888 into the executive committee of the HAPAG were appointed, which was extended thereby on three persons. For the improved extent of utilization of the ships in the winter he began 1891 to organize cruises first into the Mediterranean area, later also to others goal with his appointment to the general manager of the HAPAG in the year 1899 was responsible he in the competition around the ship-based transatlantic traffic for the building of the then largest and fastest ships of the world. Thus Germany "the blue volume won 1900 ". 1906 were activated the empress Auguste Viktoria as the largest ship of the world. 1912 followed the Imperator.

For the emigrants, who were carried with the ships of the HAPAG at that time, Albert Ballin created the Ballinstadt designated after him. On well 55,000 square meters on the Veddel in Hamburg and in approximately 30 single buildings he lets sleep and residential pavilions, food resounding, baths, churches and synagogs as well as areas for medical examinations establish. Purpose of the Ballinstadt was it, the emigrant, who waited for their passage, a safe place for the order places. The stay, which were accommodation and food supply in the Ballinstadt in the price of the passenger tickets contained.

Humans

Ballin was not fully accepted by that Hamburg society. For these he was only a successful general manager of a shipping company and evenly not the owner of a company. Nevertheless it was very influential due to its success and maintained among other things also contacts with emperor Wilhelm II., which brought in the designation of the shipowners of the emperor for it. Both, although about different origin, understood themselves and operated in the best way also privately with one another, although at the yard an anti-Semitic basic attitude was openly shown.

Commitment

Ballin tried before the First World War in vain to prevent by its contacts the arms race and to lead a German/English reconciliation here. For this it held among other things conversations with the German emperor and the English banker Sir Ernest Cassel. Due to the German fleet politics its efforts and his fears failed proved to be true. During the war it tried to use its contacts and the USA of the entrance into the Ith world war to hold and William II. to the renouncement of the unrestricted submarine war to induce. Both failed. When desired the highest army command should it at the end of the war as a integere person with England the peace discussions lead, which it did. While confusions of the end of war 1918, when its life's work seemed destroyed, and its emperor had resigned, he set an end for his life with poison.

After it the road Ballindamm in Hamburg was designated, at which the head office of the HAPAG was settled. Also one 1923 established Kontorhaus were designated after it, which means however since 1938 measuring mountain yard. In its order 1908 of the architects Werner Lundt and George Kallmorgen delighted the house, called mansion Ballin, in the Feldbrunnenstr. today the UNESCO institute for stands for 58 since 1982 under monument protection and accommodates.

Literature

• Franklin Kopitzsch, Dirk Brietzke: Hamburgi biography. Person encyclopedia. Volume 1. Hamburg 2001, S. 32ff, ISBN 3-7672-1364-8
• Susanne Wiborg: Albert Ballin. Ellert & judge, Hamburg 2000, ISBN 3-89234-945-2
• On-line biography with cosmopolis.ch

See also

James Simon

Related links

Articles in category "Albert Ballin"

We found here 7 articles.