Dangerous water in the land of the economic miracle-Hamburg’s flood disaster in February 1962

Abstract

In February 1962, West Germany was well on its way to economic and social reconstruction. However, Hamburg’s flood disaster, causing 315 deaths and important damages, reveals the fragility of the miracle years. The need to give sense to the event triggered a plethora of different narratives on nature, man, society and the future. The shock about the deaths, the misery of the survivors, and the fragility of technical security were debated in terms of religion and cultural criticism. Nationwide solidarity and the context of the Cold war contributed to the reinforcement of a West German nation-building narrative. At the same time, the events underwent a military interpretation, recalling the last war. Finally, the floods paved the way for optimistic and technocratic large-scale solutions. The flood disaster thus gives insights in the collective identity of Germany between fragility and self-confidence.