During the second half of the 19th century, Hamburg became Central Europe's main hub for transatlantic passenger and freight travel, and from 1871 onward it was Germany's principal port of trade.
În cea de-a doua jumătate a secolului al XIX-lea, Hamburg a devenit principalul nod de transport maritim de pasageri și de mărfuri al Europei Centrale, iar din 1871 a fost principalul port comercial al Germaniei.