![Woermann flag](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/Woermann_flag.svg)
The Woermann-Linie was a German shipping company that operated from 1885 to 1942.
![StateLibQld 1 126207 Calypso (ship)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/StateLibQld_1_126207_Calypso_%28ship%29.jpg)
History
It was founded on 15 June 1885 by
Adolph Woermann
Adolph Woermann (10 December 1847 in Hamburg – 4 May 1911 in the Grönwohld-Hof near Trittau) was a German merchant, shipowner and politician, who was also instrumental in the establishment of German colonies in Africa. In his time he was the ...
and developed as one of the leading shipping companies between Europe and
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
. From 1899 the company was headquartered in
Afrikahaus, in
Hamburg
(male), (female) en, Hamburger(s),
Hamburgian(s)
, timezone1 = Central (CET)
, utc_offset1 = +1
, timezone1_DST = Central (CEST)
, utc_offset1_DST = +2
, postal ...
.
For decades it transported contract laborers to various places on the African continent, for instance, workers from
Liberia
Liberia (), officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the West African coast. It is bordered by Sierra Leone to Liberia–Sierra Leone border, its northwest, Guinea to its north, Ivory Coast to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean ...
and
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
to
Spanish Guinea
Spanish Guinea (Spanish language, Spanish: ''Guinea Española'') was a set of Insular Region (Equatorial Guinea), insular and Río Muni, continental territories controlled by Spain from 1778 in the Gulf of Guinea and on the Bight of Bonny, in ...
.
The Woermann family sold it to
Deutsche Ost-Afrika Linie
Deutsche Ost-Afrika Linie (''German East Africa Line'') was a shipping line, established in 1890 as an alternative to the existing shipping services to East Africa, including German East Africa (1891–1919), then dominated by United Kingdom ...
in 1916.
In 1942, it and the Deutsche Ost-Afrika Linie were taken over by
John T. Essberger. The Deutsche Afrika-Linien lost both fleets in post-war reparations.
See also
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External links
*
Defunct shipping companies
Shipping companies of Germany
Companies based in Hamburg
Transport companies established in 1890
Transport companies disestablished in 1942
1942 disestablishments in Germany
1890 establishments in Africa
1942 disestablishments in Africa
Defunct transport companies of Germany
German companies established in 1885
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