Hamburg

Hamburg (1,660,700), historic seaport, capital city of Hamburg state; largest city in western Germany, near the mouth of the Elbe River. Probably founded by Charlemagne, it was a dominant member of the Hanseatic League and has always been a flourishing commercial center. Hamburg was devastated in World War II, but has been rebuilt and now has shipyards and a wide range of industries. It is a transport hub and a center of the country's fishing industry.

See also: Germany.