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The Province of Hanover (german: Provinz Hannover) was a
province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions out ...
of the
Kingdom of Prussia The Kingdom of Prussia (german: Königreich Preußen, ) was a German kingdom that constituted the state of Prussia between 1701 and 1918.Marriott, J. A. R., and Charles Grant Robertson. ''The Evolution of Prussia, the Making of an Empire''. ...
and the Free State of Prussia from 1868 to 1946. During the Austro-Prussian War, the Kingdom of Hanover had attempted to maintain a neutral position, along with some other member states of the
German Confederation The German Confederation (german: Deutscher Bund, ) was an association of 39 predominantly German-speaking sovereign states in Central Europe. It was created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 as a replacement of the former Holy Roman Empire, w ...
. After Hanover voted in favour of mobilising confederation troops against Prussia on 14 June 1866, Prussia saw this as a just cause for declaring war; the Kingdom of Hanover was soon dissolved and annexed by Prussia. The private wealth of the dethroned House of Hanover was then used by Otto von Bismarck to finance his continuing efforts against Ludwig II of Bavaria. In 1946, the British military administration recreated the
State of Hanover The State of Hanover (german: Land Hannover) was a short-lived state within the British Zone of Allied-occupied Germany. It existed for 92 days in the course of the dissolution of the Free State of Prussia after World War II until the foundat ...
based on the former Kingdom of Hanover; but within the year, at the instigation of the German leadership, it was merged into the new state () of
Lower Saxony Lower Saxony (german: Niedersachsen ; nds, Neddersassen; stq, Läichsaksen) is a German state (') in northwestern Germany. It is the second-largest state by land area, with , and fourth-largest in population (8 million in 2021) among the 16 ...
—along with the states of Oldenburg, Brunswick, and
Schaumburg-Lippe Schaumburg-Lippe, also Lippe-Schaumburg, was created as a county in 1647, became a principality in 1807, a free state in 1918, and was until 1946 a small state in Germany, located in the present day state of Lower Saxony, with its capital at Bü ...
—with the city of Hanover as the capital of this new state.


Hanoverian regions

Hanover was subdivided into six regions first called ''Landdrostei n' (High-Bailiwick , which were reorganised into Prussian standard Regierungsbezirke (governorates) on 1 April 1885. # Aurich # Osnabrück # Stade # Lüneburg (''Lunenburg'') #
Hildesheim Hildesheim (; nds, Hilmessen, Hilmssen; la, Hildesia) is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany with 101,693 inhabitants. It is in the district of Hildesheim, about southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste River, a small tributary of the ...
# Hanover


Administrative divisions from 1885

On 1 April 1885 the six '' Landdrosteien'' were turned into regional administrative districts called '' Regierungsbezirke'': The ''Regierungsbezirke'' were subdivided into new urban and rural counties (''Stadtkreise'' and ''Landkreise''), the old ''
Amt Amt is a type of administrative division governing a group of municipalities, today only in Germany, but formerly also common in other countries of Northern Europe. Its size and functions differ by country and the term is roughly equivalent to ...
'' structure being disbanded. Where the name of the county town differs from that of the county, it is shown in brackets:


Regierungsbezirk Aurich


Stadtkreise

* Emden * Wilhelmshaven (1919–1937, then ceded to Oldenburg)


Landkreise

* Aurich * Emden (to 1932, then divided between the town of Emden, Landkreis Norden and Landkreis Leer) * Leer *
Norden Norden is a Scandinavian and German word, directly translated as "the North". It may refer to: Places England * Norden, Basingstoke, a ward of Basingstoke and Deane * Norden, Dorset, a hamlet near Corfe Castle * Norden, Greater Manchester, a vil ...
* Weener (to 1932, then to Landkreis Leer) * Wittmund


Regierungsbezirk Hannover


Stadtkreise

* Hamelin (from 1923) * Hanover * Linden (1886–1920, then to the city of Hanover)


Landkreise

* Grafschaft Diepholz (county offices in Diepholz, to 1932 Kreis Diepholz) * Grafschaft Hoya (county offices in Syke, before 1932 Kreis Hoya) * Grafschaft Schaumburg (county offices in Rinteln, before 1932 Province of Hesse-Nassau) * Hameln-Pyrmont (county offices in Hamelin, before 1922 Kreis Hameln) * Hanover * Linden (to 1932, then to Landkreis Hannover) * Neustadt am Rübenberge * Nienburg/Weser * Springe *
Stolzenau Stolzenau is a municipality in the district of Nienburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the left bank of the Weser, approx. 20 km southwest of Nienburg, and 25 km northeast of Minden. During the second half of the 20th c ...
(to 1932, then to Landkreis Nienburg/Weser) *
Sulingen Sulingen is a town in the district of Diepholz, Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approximatively 30 km east of Diepholz, and 45 km south of Bremen. Sister cities * Joniškis Joniškis (; Samogitian: ''Juonėškis'') is a town ...
(to 1932, then to Landkreis Grafschaft Diepholz) * Syke (to 1932, then to Landkreis Grafschaft Hoya)


Regierungsbezirk Hildesheim


Stadtkreise

*
Göttingen Göttingen (, , ; nds, Chöttingen) is a university city in Lower Saxony, central Germany, the capital of the eponymous district. The River Leine runs through it. At the end of 2019, the population was 118,911. General information The ori ...
*
Goslar Goslar (; Eastphalian: ''Goslär'') is a historic town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Goslar and located on the northwestern slopes of the Harz mountain range. The Old Town of Goslar and the Mi ...
(to 1941, then to Brunswick) *
Hildesheim Hildesheim (; nds, Hilmessen, Hilmssen; la, Hildesia) is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany with 101,693 inhabitants. It is in the district of Hildesheim, about southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste River, a small tributary of the ...


Landkreise

* Alfeld *
Duderstadt Duderstadt () is a city in southern Lower Saxony, Germany, located in the district of Göttingen. It is the center and capital of the northern part of the Eichsfeld ("Untereichsfeld"). In earlier times it was the private wealth of the Roman Cat ...
* Einbeck *
Göttingen Göttingen (, , ; nds, Chöttingen) is a university city in Lower Saxony, central Germany, the capital of the eponymous district. The River Leine runs through it. At the end of 2019, the population was 118,911. General information The ori ...
*
Goslar Goslar (; Eastphalian: ''Goslär'') is a historic town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Goslar and located on the northwestern slopes of the Harz mountain range. The Old Town of Goslar and the Mi ...
(to 1941, then to Brunswick) * Gronau *
Hildesheim Hildesheim (; nds, Hilmessen, Hilmssen; la, Hildesia) is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany with 101,693 inhabitants. It is in the district of Hildesheim, about southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste River, a small tributary of the ...
*
Holzminden Holzminden (; nds, Holtsminne) is a town in southern Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Holzminden. It is located on the river Weser, which at this point forms the border with the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. His ...
(from 1941, previously Brunswick) * Ilfeld (to 1932, then to Province of Saxony) * Marienburg i. Hann. (county offices in
Hildesheim Hildesheim (; nds, Hilmessen, Hilmssen; la, Hildesia) is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany with 101,693 inhabitants. It is in the district of Hildesheim, about southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste River, a small tributary of the ...
) * Münden *
Northeim Northeim (; nds, Nuurten) is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, seat of the district of Northeim, with, in 2011, a population of 29,000. It lies on the German Half-Timbered House Road. History Northeim is first mentioned in 800 in a document ...
* Osterode am Harz * Peine * Uslar (to 1932, then to Landkreis Northeim) * Zellerfeld (county offices in
Clausthal-Zellerfeld Clausthal-Zellerfeld is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located in the southwestern part of the Harz mountains. Its population is approximately 15,000. The City is the location of the Clausthal University of Technology. The health r ...
)


Regierungsbezirk Lüneburg


Stadtkreise

* Celle * Harburg (1927 to
Harburg-Wilhelmsburg Harburg-Wilhelmsburg was a city in the Prussian Province of Hanover briefly in existence from 1927 and 1937, resulting from the merger of the cities of Harburg and Wilhelmsburg. In 1937, Harburg-Wilhelmsburg, along with the cities from the Prussi ...
) *
Harburg-Wilhelmsburg Harburg-Wilhelmsburg was a city in the Prussian Province of Hanover briefly in existence from 1927 and 1937, resulting from the merger of the cities of Harburg and Wilhelmsburg. In 1937, Harburg-Wilhelmsburg, along with the cities from the Prussi ...
(1927–1937, then to Hamburg) * Lüneburg * Wilhelmsburg (1925–1927, then to
Harburg-Wilhelmsburg Harburg-Wilhelmsburg was a city in the Prussian Province of Hanover briefly in existence from 1927 and 1937, resulting from the merger of the cities of Harburg and Wilhelmsburg. In 1937, Harburg-Wilhelmsburg, along with the cities from the Prussi ...
)


Landkreise

*
Bleckede Bleckede (, Polabian ''Bleketsa'') is a town in the district of Lüneburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated mostly on the left bank of the Elbe, approx. 20 km east of Lüneburg. Bleckede is located on the German Timber-Frame Roa ...
(to 1932, then to Landkreis Lüneburg) * Burgdorf * Celle *
Fallingbostel Bad Fallingbostel (Northern Low Saxon: ''Bad Fambossel'') is the district town (''Kreisstadt'') of the Heidekreis district in the German state of Lower Saxony. Since 1976 the town has had a state-recognised Kneipp spa and has held the title of ...
* Gifhorn * Harburg (county offices in
Hamburg-Harburg Harburg is a borough of the city of Hamburg, Germany. It is also the name of Harburg quarter in the borough, which used to be the capital of the Harburg district in Lower Saxony. The borough of Harburg lies on the southern banks of the river El ...
) * Isenhagen (to 1932, then to Landkreis Gifhorn) * Lüchow-Dannenberg (county offices in
Lüchow Lüchow (Wendland) () is a city in northeastern Lower Saxony, in Germany. It is the seat of the ''Samtgemeinde'' ("collective municipality") Lüchow (Wendland), and is the capital of the district Lüchow-Dannenberg. Situated approximately 13&nb ...
, formed in 1932 from the counties of
Lüchow Lüchow (Wendland) () is a city in northeastern Lower Saxony, in Germany. It is the seat of the ''Samtgemeinde'' ("collective municipality") Lüchow (Wendland), and is the capital of the district Lüchow-Dannenberg. Situated approximately 13&nb ...
and Danneberg) * Lüneburg * Soltau * Uelzen (county offices to 1974 in Oldenstadt) * Winsen


Regierungsbezirk Osnabrück


Stadtkreise

* Osnabrück


Landkreise

* Aschendorf-Hümmling (county offices in Aschendorf/Ems, formed in 1932 from the counties of
Aschendorf Aschendorf is a railway station located in Aschendorf, Lower Saxony, Germany. The station lies on the Emsland Railway (Rheine - Norddeich) and the train services are operated by WestfalenBahn WestfalenBahn is a railway company operating ...
and
Hümmling The Hümmling (''Homelinghen'', from ''hömil'' = small stone) is a ground moraine landscape, up to , in the Emsland region on the North German Plain in the western part of the German state of Lower Saxony. Location The wooded Hümmling, whic ...
) * Landkreis Bersenbrück * Grafschaft Bentheim (county offices in Bentheim) * Iburg (to 1932, then to Landkreis Osnabrück) * Lingen * Melle * Meppen * Osnabrück * Wittlage


Regierungsbezirk Stade


Stadtkreise

*
Cuxhaven Cuxhaven (; ) is an independent town and seat of the Cuxhaven district, in Lower Saxony, Germany. The town includes the northernmost point of Lower Saxony. It is situated on the shore of the North Sea at the mouth of the Elbe River. Cuxhaven ...
(from 1937, previously part of Hamburg) *
Geestemünde Bremerhaven (, , Low German: ''Bremerhoben'') is a city at the seaport of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, a state of the Federal Republic of Germany. It forms a semi-enclave in the state of Lower Saxony and is located at the mouth of the Ri ...
(1912–1924, then to Stadtkreis Wesermünde) * Lehe (1920–1924, then to Stadtkreis Wesermünde) *
Wesermünde Bremerhaven (, , Low German: ''Bremerhoben'') is a city at the seaport of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, a state of the Federal Republic of Germany. It forms a semi-enclave in the state of Lower Saxony and is located at the mouth of the Ri ...
(formed in 1924 from the counties of
Geestemünde Bremerhaven (, , Low German: ''Bremerhoben'') is a city at the seaport of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, a state of the Federal Republic of Germany. It forms a semi-enclave in the state of Lower Saxony and is located at the mouth of the Ri ...
and Lehe)


Landkreise

* Achim (to 1932, then to Landkreis Verden) * Blumenthal (to 1932, then to Landkreis Osterholz) * Bremervörde * Hadeln (county offices in Otterndorf, 1932 to Landkreis Land Hadeln) *
Jork Jork is a small town on the left bank of the Elbe, near Hamburg (Germany). Jork belongs to the district of Stade, in Lower Saxony. The town is the capital of the Altes Land, one of the biggest fruit growing areas in Europe, and Jork is home to a ...
(to 1932, then to counties of Stade and Harburg) *
Kehdingen Kehdingen is the name of a landscape in the north German district of Stade on the Lower Elbe, the lower reaches of the River Elbe. It extends roughly from the mouth of the Oste in the north to the town of Stade in the south. Kehdingen is one of t ...
(to 1932, then to Landkreis Stade) * Land Hadeln (county offices in Otterndorf, formed in 1932 from the counties of Hadeln and Neuhaus an der Oste) * Neuhaus an der Oste (to 1932, then to Landkreis Land Hadeln) *
Osterholz Osterholz is a district (''Landkreis'') in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by (from the west and clockwise) the districts of Wesermarsch, Cuxhaven, Rotenburg and Verden, and by the city of Bremen. History Originally the prince-archbisho ...
(county offices in Osterholz-Scharmbeck) * Rotenburg i. Hann. * Stade * Verden *
Wesermünde Bremerhaven (, , Low German: ''Bremerhoben'') is a city at the seaport of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, a state of the Federal Republic of Germany. It forms a semi-enclave in the state of Lower Saxony and is located at the mouth of the Ri ...
(formed in 1932 from the counties of
Geestemünde Bremerhaven (, , Low German: ''Bremerhoben'') is a city at the seaport of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, a state of the Federal Republic of Germany. It forms a semi-enclave in the state of Lower Saxony and is located at the mouth of the Ri ...
and Lehe) * Zeven (to 1932, then to Landkreis Bremervörde)


Presidents of the Province of Hanover

The heads of the provinces, appointed by the central Prussian government, were called Oberpräsident (Upper President). The provincial executive, the Landesdirektor (provincial director), was elected by the provincial parliament (Provinziallandtag). * Otto Graf zu Stolberg-Wernigerode 1867–1873 * Botho Wendt August Graf zu Eulenburg 1873–1878 * Adolf Hilmar von Leipziger 1878–1888 *
Rudolf von Bennigsen Karl Wilhelm Rudolf von Bennigsen (10 July 1824, Lüneburg – 7 August 1902, Bennigsen near Springe) was a German politician descended from an old Hanoverian family. Biography Bennigsen was born at Lüneburg on 10 July 1824. He was desce ...
1888–1897 * Konstantin Graf zu Stolberg-Wernigerode 1898–1902 * Richard von Wentzel 1902–1914 * Ludwig Hubert von Windheim 1914–1917 * Ernst von Richter ( DVP) 1917–1920 * Gustav Noske ( SPD) 1920–1933 * Viktor Lutze ( NSDAP) 1933–1941 *
Hartmann Lauterbacher Hartmann Lauterbacher (24 May 1909 – 12 April 1988) was a senior regional leader (''Obergebietsführer'') of the ''Hitler Jugend'', as well as ''Gauleiter'' of Gau South Hanover–Brunswick (Südhannover-Braunschweig) and an SS-''Obergruppenf� ...
(NSDAP) 1941–1945 *
Hinrich Wilhelm Kopf Hinrich Wilhelm Kopf 1948 Hinrich Wilhelm Kopf (6 May 1893 – 21 December 1961) was a German politician (SPD). He joined the SPD in 1919. Kopf worked from 1939 to 1943 on behalf of the Nazi government as an asset manager in occupied Poland, ...
(SPD) 1946


See also

* Kingdom of Hanover, for rulers of Hanover before the Prussian annexation {{DEFAULTSORT:Hanover, Province Of Provinces of Prussia 1868 establishments in Prussia Province of Hanover 1946 disestablishments in Germany