The honorary citizen award  is the highest decoration of Hamburg

Hamburg

-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...

, Germany.

Since 1813, given by the Senate of Hamburg, the honor was only for non Hamburg citizens until 1948 um sie zu einem der unseren zu machen (to make them as one of us). Since 1848 the state parliament (Hamburgische Bürgerschaft)

Hamburg Parliament

The Hamburg Parliament is the unicameral legislature of the German state of Hamburg according to the constitution of Hamburg. As of 2011 there were 121 members in the parliament, representing a relatively equal amount of constituencies...

 is asked to confirm the honor. It can also be revoked and gives no rights or duty.

Honorary Citizens of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg

Listed by year of award:

Date	Name	Notes
1813	Friedrich Karl von Tettenborn Friedrich Karl von Tettenborn Baron Friedrich Karl of Tettenborn was a famous cavalry general in the Austrian and Russian armies during the Napoleonic Wars.-Life:...  (1778–1845)	Russian Colonel Colonel Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...  and diplomat "Because the Lord has guided the restoration of the independence of Hamburg so fortunate and carried out the liberation of the Napoleonic occupation forces."
1816	Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, Fürst von Wahlstatt , Graf , later elevated to Fürst von Wahlstatt, was a Prussian Generalfeldmarschall who led his army against Napoleon I at the Battle of the Nations at Leipzig in 1813 and at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 with the Duke of Wellington.He is...  (1742–1819)	Prussian field marshal Generalfeldmarschall Field Marshal or Generalfeldmarschall in German, was a rank in the armies of several German states and the Holy Roman Empire; in the Austrian Empire, the rank Feldmarschall was used... "The prince had stated to the Mayor, that it would be very glad to be rewarded with the citizenship."
1826	August Otto Graf Grote (1747–1830)	Prussian Secret Council and diplomat to Hamburg "On the recommendation of Counselor Büscher."
1834	James Colquhoun James Colquhoun James Colquhoun was a British diplomat who represented the interests of various German cities in Great Britain.-Biography:...  (1780–1855)	Hanseatic Consul General to London "On the recommendation of Dr. Abendroth Amandus Augustus Abendroth Amandus Augustus Abendroth was a German jurist and mayor of Hamburg.He was the son of Abraham Augustus Abendroth, a lower court procuraton from Eisenberg, Saxony. Beginning in 1787, he studied law in Erlangen and Göttingen, where he was awarded a doctorate on 30 March 1790. He married in Venice...  in terms of special achievements."
1838	Georg Michael Gramlich (1795–1880)	Merchant, Hanseatic diplomat to Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south... "Closure of a friendship, trade and navigation treaty with Venezuela on 27 May 1837."
1843	Johann Smidt Johann Smidt Johann Smidt was an important Bremen politician, theologian, and founder of Bremerhaven.Smidt was a son of the Reformed preacher Johann Smidt sen., pastor at St. Stephen Church in Bremen. Smidt jun. studied theology in Jena, and was one of the founders of the Gesellschaft der freien Männer...  (1773–1857)	Mayor of Bremen Bremen The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is... "Acknowledging the assistance after the Great Fire of Hamburg."
1843	Eduard Heinrich von Flottwell (1786–1865)	Prussian Secret Council "Acknowledging the assistance after the Great Fire."
1843	Conrad Daniel Graf von Blücher-Altona (1764–1845)	Danish Secret Council and President of the city of Alsona Altona, Hamburg Altona is the westernmost urban borough of the German city state of Hamburg, on the right bank of the Elbe river. From 1640 to 1864 Altona was under the administration of the Danish monarchy. Altona was an independent city until 1937... "Acknowledging the assistance after the Great Fire."
1843	Heinrich Christoph Gottfried von Struve (1772–1851)	Russian Secret Council and diplomat to the Hanseatic cities "On the occasion of his 50th anniversary o service and for his efforts in the promotion of science (founder of the science museum in Hamburg)."
1871	Otto von Bismarck Otto von Bismarck Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg , simply known as Otto von Bismarck, was a Prussian-German statesman whose actions unified Germany, made it a major player in world affairs, and created a balance of power that kept Europe at peace after 1871.As Minister President of...  (1815–1898)	Chancellor of the German Empire "Services for the reborn and united German Fatherland"
1871	Helmuth Karl Bernhard, Graf von Moltke (1800–1891)	Prussian General "Services for the reborn and united German Fatherland"
1886	Gustav Christian Schwabe Gustav Christian Schwabe Gustav Christian Schwabe was a German-born merchant and financier who funded companies such as John Bibby & Sons, Harland and Wolff and the White Star Line. Born in Hamburg, Germany, Schwabe moved to Liverpool in 1838 and spent his working life there...  (1813–1897)	Merchant in London "Gift of 128 paintings to the Kunsthalle Kunsthalle Hamburg The Hamburger Kunsthalle is an art museum in Hamburg, Germany. The art museum focuses on painting in Hamburg in the 14th century, paintings by Dutch and Flemish artists of the 16th and 17th centuries, French and German paintings of the 19th century, modern, and contemporary art... "
1889	Johannes Brahms Johannes Brahms Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...  (1833–1897)	Composer "Through the outstanding works brought honor and glory to his native town"
1901	Alfred Graf von Waldersee Alfred Graf von Waldersee Alfred Ludwig Heinrich Karl Graf von Waldersee was a German Generalfeldmarschall who served as Chief of the Imperial German General Staff from 1888 to 1891 and as Allied Supreme Commander in China in 1900-1901.-Family:Alfred von Waldersee was the fifth of six children of the Prussian cavalry...  (1832–1904)	Prussian field marshal "Activity in maintaining world peace."
1917	Paul von Hindenburg Paul von Hindenburg Paul Ludwig Hans Anton von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg , known universally as Paul von Hindenburg was a Prussian-German field marshal, statesman, and politician, and served as the second President of Germany from 1925 to 1934....  (1847–1934)	Prussian field marshal "Grateful reverence of the victorious and glorious commander."
1948	Henry Everling (1873–1960)	Senator of Hamburg "Contributions to the common good (consumer cooperatives)."
1950	Adolph Schönfelder Adolph Schönfelder - External links :...  (1875–1966)	President of the Hamburg Parliament Hamburg Parliament The Hamburg Parliament is the unicameral legislature of the German state of Hamburg according to the constitution of Hamburg. As of 2011 there were 121 members in the parliament, representing a relatively equal amount of constituencies...  and First Mayor of Hamburg "Contributions to the common good and constructive cooperation between the ruling majority and opposition."
1960	Max Brauer Max Brauer Max Julius Friedrich Brauer was a German politician of the Social Democratic Party and First Mayor of Hamburg....  (1887–1973)	First Mayor of Hamburg "Contributions to the common good."
1971	Herbert Weichmann Herbert Weichmann Herbert Weichmann was a German lawyer and politician and First Mayor of Hamburg . In his position as mayor of Hamburg, he served as President of the Bundesrat .-Life:Weichmann was born in Landsberg, Upper Silesia, then part of the German Reich, to a Jewish family of physicians...  (1896–1983)	First Mayor of Hamburg "Contributions to the common good."
1978	Herbert Dau (1911–2000)	President of the Hamburg Parliament "Contributions to the common good."
1983	Helmut Schmidt Helmut Schmidt Helmut Heinrich Waldemar Schmidt is a German Social Democratic politician who served as Chancellor of West Germany from 1974 to 1982. Prior to becoming chancellor, he had served as Minister of Defence and Minister of Finance. He had also served briefly as Minister of Economics and as acting...  (1918–)	German chancellor "For his statesmanship and great contributions to the common good of Hamburg."
1985	Ida Ehre Ida Ehre Ida Ehre was an Austrian-German actress and theatre director and manager.-Biography :Ehre’s father was a hazzan. She learned acting at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna...  (1900–1989)	Actress and director "Outstanding contributions to the intellectual and cultural reconstruction of our country and the city of Hamburg."
1986	Herbert Wehner Herbert Wehner Herbert Richard Wehner was a German politician. A former member of the Communist Party, he joined the Social Democrats after World War II...  (1906–1990)	Member of the Bundestag Bundestag The Bundestag is a federal legislative body in Germany. In practice Germany is governed by a bicameral legislature, of which the Bundestag serves as the lower house and the Bundesrat the upper house. The Bundestag is established by the German Basic Law of 1949, as the successor to the earlier... "Has made a contribution to the reconstruction of our country and our city of Hamburg."
1986	Gerd Bucerius Gerd Bucerius Gerd Bucerius was a German politician and journalist, one of the founding members of Die Zeit. He is the namesake of the Bucerius Law School in Hamburg and of the Bucerius Kunst Forum, an art gallery....  (1906–1996)	Politician, journalist, and employer "Has shaped the history of media and great contribution to our country and our city of Hamburg."
1991	Kurt A. Körber Kurt A. Körber Kurt A. Körber was a German founder and businessman, who founded the Hauni Maschinenbau AG, an internationally leading company for the production of machines for the tobacco industry and the Körber Foundation , both based in Hamburg, Germany...  (1909–1992)	Employer and founder "Outstanding contribution to the Federal Republic of Germany, the reconstruction of Hamburg and the promotion of science and culture."
1991	Alfred Toepfer Alfred Toepfer Dr. Alfred Carl Toepfer was a German entrepreneur, owner of the company Toepfer International and founder of the Alfred Toepfer Foundation...  (1894–1993)	Merchant and founder "Outstanding contribution to the Federal Republic of Germany, the reconstruction of Hamburg and the promotion of science and culture."
1993	Rudolf Augstein Rudolf Augstein Rudolf Karl Augstein was one of the most influential German journalists, founder and part-owner of Der Spiegel magazine....  (1923–2002)	Publisher and journalist "Outstanding contribution to Hamburg as the media capital of Germany."
1999	Marion Gräfin Dönhoff (1909–2002)	Publisher and publicist "Extraordinary contributions to freedom, justice and human rights."
2001	Siegfried Lenz Siegfried Lenz Siegfried Lenz is a German writer, who has written novels and produced several collections of short stories, essays, and plays for radio and the theatre. He was awarded the Goethe Prize in Frankfurt-am-Main on the 250th Anniversary of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's birth...	Writer "Has contributed with his literary work for the renewal and recognition of Germany in the spirit of humanism."
2003	Uwe Seeler	The first sports person receiving the honorary citizenship.
2005	Hannelore and Helmut Greve	Founders
2007	John Neumeier John Neumeier John Neumeier is a well-known American ballet dancer, choreographer, and director. He has been the director and chief choreographer of the Hamburg Ballet since 1973. 5 years later he founded the Hamburg Ballet School, which also includes a boarding school...	The first artist to receive the honorary citizenship and the first foreign born.
2009	Loki Schmidt Loki Schmidt Hannelore "Loki" Schmidt, née Glaser was a German environmentalist. She was the wife of Helmut Schmidt, who was the Chancellor of Germany from 1974 to 1982.-Life and work:...	Contributions to preservation of endangered plants.

Revoked

• 1933 Adolf Hitler
  Adolf Hitler
  Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
  
   (1889–1945) revoked 1945
• 1937 Hermann Göring
  Hermann Göring
  Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
  
  (1893–1946) revoked 1945