Hamburg-America Line (Research Paper Sample)

Hamburg-America Line Name: Professor: Course: Date: Summary The current Hamburg-America was created on September of 1970 when Hamburg-Amerikanische Packetfahrt-Actien-Gesellschaft (Hapag) and North German Lloyd (NDL) merged. Prior to the merger, the two companies have great histories as separate entities. Hapag was founded in Hamburg in 1847 and NDL in Bremen ten years later. They both became successful, and featured on international front, because of their involvement in the emigrant transport business to the Americas. Besides the two plying the Atlantic waters, they engaged in joint ventures that created good foundation for the merger. Changes in the industrial and agricultural sectors witnessed in all corners of the universe meant great expansion for Hapag. Further changes occurred as a result of the wars. During the war periods, the company lost its fleet. Building anew became the norm each time the war comes to an end. The end of World War II, however, had more negative repercussions than with the first. The Hamburg-America line has seen many laws enacted. Its activities in 1930s led to enactment of anti-immigrant laws in the US and later the Holocaust law. Such has reshaped the history of water transport and movement of technology, ethnic diversity, especially in the US. Major trade routes came to be because of Hapag and other major lines. Feeder routes were also developed to ensure goods penetrated to the desired locations. Great profits were made and the lines played an important role in international commerce and the developing world economy. Many of the lines were badly affected by World Wars. Changes in America's immigration policy ended the large-scale transport of emigrants. Further damage to the lines occurred as a result of the Great Depression. The success of the transatlantic trade with all the major ships experienced several challenges. The shipping cartels caused numerous troubles both to the companies and the immigrants. The Transition from sail to steam in immigration to the United States Hamburg-America line was a major transatlantic steamship company started in Hamburg, Germany, back in 1847 under the name of Hamburg Amerikanische Packetfahrt Actien Gesellschaft. It rapidly grew as a successful business venture to the world's largest shipping company that handled immigration activities to the USA. During the World Wars, the company established a liner that served as the largest departure point for German and European immigrants to North America until when it closed in 1969. A number of this company's vessels were seized during the war. The US, in particular, took the Vaterland, renamed and used it as a warship. Other ships were given to allies as war reparations. By the end of both the WWI and WWII, Hamburg-America line had lost nearly all its fleet twice. In order to get back, the company later merged with the Bremen-based North German Lloyd to form the present day Hapag-Lloyd. With strict restrictions lifted, Hamburg-America started again. By the time it came back to business, many shipping companies had been started. They had become stronger due to lack of stiff competition. However, Hamburg-American line avoided costly rivalry in order to grow. It went back to the old trades, even with no operating agreement, at first as cargo-only service. In conjunction with NDL, Hamburg-America opened service with monthly sailings to the Far East. By 1955 Hamburg-America had resumed all the major routes, not only operating as cargo ships but also did a little of sea tourism (Cohn, 2005). Summary The trans-Atlantic trade route provided a way by which transition from sailing ship to steamship took place. The time used to travel the distance decreased with each advancements on the locomotives. Though not so gradual, the transition period took longer, 15 years, because of construction lagged and the ever increasing immigrant numbers. Voyage of the Damned By 1896 Hamburg-America line had 102 vessels carrying approximately 269, 500 tons. With these numbers increasing, the company maintained weekly express service, offering the public the convenience of travelling between America and the European Continent with absolute safety, in the shortest possible time, and with a degree of comfort that was unmatched. The ships connected the ports of Hamburg and New York via Southampton, and later from Eastern Europe. Initially, it only linked European ports with the ones in North America. It later established connections to all parts of the world. Increasing number of emigrants created lucrative trade for the steam ship companies. Such developments gave rise to the great steamship lines of the 19th and 20th century. The major steamer lines were American, British, Dutch, and German, but many countries had smaller lines. One of the most noted steamer lines was Cunard which came to dominate the Atlantic passenger trade (Gordon, 1974). Summary The merger of Hamburg-America and NDL brought competition to an end and fostered cooperation that saw the two companies at the top of shipping business. The two companies had mutually operated alongside each other for over a hundred years. This is a journey of a company establishing itself as the best in service all over the globe. Maritime history and history of migration At the time of establishment, there was political problems in Germany that made many people to immigrate to new countries. After the war between France and Germany it started a line to the West Indies, and later to Baltimore, Boston, Montreal and other ports in North America. On the other end of the Atlantic, the European economies grew equally as fast, with Britain trailing after Germany and France in industrialization. Thirdly, because of rapid increase in production in several countries, technical advances became fast making water transport cheaper, fast and readily available. Fourthly, opening of several sea channels like the Suez in 1859 reduced both the distance and cost of transporting goods to the Far East. After the war, Hamburg-America had to start all over again from the little left of its former self. It was banned from all the major oceans with ship's maximum size limited to 1, 500grt. This move made the company to provide services to seaside resorts, invest in catering and towage. The company paid for its country's mistakes. All German ships were grounded from plying international waters by the allies (Tonizzi, 2004). Summary The North Atlantic trade route developed because of the immigrants mostly fleeing the politically and social Europe at the time. Russia and Lithuania experienced turmoils that resulted to mass exodus of immigrants. The Politics of Exit: Reversing the Immigration Paradigm Appreciable developments took place with the expansion of world trade and ocean commerce. This changes occurred after great progress was registered following the American Civil War (1861-65). To start with was the skyrocketing growth of the US that immensely increased the production of both industrial and agricultural commodities. The influx of immigrants into the US changed its ethnic composition. It affected America's industrial process and economy in a very noticeable way. Though the immigrants’ numbers drop significantly due to shipping c...