Historical photograph: Dr. med. Fesel, Jan W. Prendel and Fritz Hartmann put on lifejackets. An exercise on a ship heading to the USA. Copyright: Archive of the MHH / Communication Office — Towards new shores: In March 1963, a delegation from the founding committee traveled by ship across the Atlantic to explore American university buildings. During a rescue exercise, Dr. Fesel, Jan W. Prendel and Fritz Hartmann (v. Copyright: Archive of the MHH / Communication Office

Historical picture of the MHH bed house. — In the carcass: In May 1967, the bed house is just before the topping out ceremony. Copyright: Archive of the MHH / Communication Office

Historical recording of a lecture hall of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, in which the first MHH students had their first lecture. — Everything started here: in the auditorium of the Rinderklinik of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, the first lecture for 41 MHH students began on April 22, 1965 - even before the official opening of the MHH. Copyright: Archive of the MHH / Communication Office

Minister of Culture Richard Langeheine 1969 with Federal President Gustav Heinemann, Egon Franke, Hans Stephan Stender and Wolfgang Frenzel (from left) — Special guests: Minister of Culture Richard Langeheine 1969 with Federal President Gustav Heinemann, Egon Franke, Hans-Stephan Stender and Wolfgang Frenzel (from left) Copyright: MHH Archive / Communications Office

Aerial view of the MHH site 1970. Copyright: MHH Archive / Communications Office — Everything in the works: aerial view of the MHH site in 1970. Copyright: MHH Archive / Communications Office

Historical photograph from 1972: Federal Minister of the Interior Hans-Dietrich Genscher Christoph 4 in service. Copyright: Archive of the MHH / Communication Office — A great moment: On 2 October 1972, Federal Interior Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher Christoph 4 in service. The rescue helicopter is part of an auxiliary system with a world-wide exemplary character. Aerial view of the MHH site 1970. Copyright: MHH Archive / Communications Office

Historical photograph 1983: Professor Hundeshagen is in Europe's first MRI scanner. — Europe-wide premiere: The MHH became the first clinic in 1983 to receive a MRI scanner. Minister of Science Johann-Tönjes Cassens (2nd from left) on commissioning. Professor Heinz Hundeshagen was the first to be examined. Copyright: Archive of the Press Office / MHH

Historical photograph: A nurse stands at the bedside in the bone marrow transplantation ward. — Successful against leukemia: The bone marrow transplant station was opened in 1985. Today, the MHH is one of the largest institutions of its kind in Germany. Copyright: Archive of the Press Office / MHH

Small history of the MHH - The founding years

The origins of the Hannover Medical School (MHH) go back to 1961. In June of that year, the National Science Council (WR) recommended that seven new academies of medicine be founded in the Federal Republic of Germany in order to increase the number of students of medicine by 7,000. Within the month, the parliament of Lower Saxony decided to go forward with plans to establish a state medical university here.

A committee to found a medical academy of Hannover met for the first time in December of 1961. By February of the following year, it had been decided that this academy would be located in the city of Hannover. On April 1, 1963, the government of Lower Saxony issued an order to establish the Medical Academy of Hannover, and this was to be the MHH.

In 1965, after less than four years of planning, the structure of the medical school had been decided on and construction plans were complete. On May 17, 1965, a celebration marking the founding of the MHH was held at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover. The founding rector of the MHH was the internist, Professor Rudolf Schoen of the University of Göttingen. He was succeeded by the first elected rector, Professor Fritz Hartmann, who played a decisive role in both the concept and physical form of the MHH. The MHH was realised as a university campus on grounds in Roderbruch. The close proximity of the clinics and institutes guarantees intense integration of patient care, research and teaching.

The first classes were held in the summer semester of 1965, in the Hannover Oststadt Hospital. The student-teacher ratio was ideal, with 12 teachers and 41 students, but this did not remain so for long. Within ten years, the number of students rose to about 1,000, and after only 20 years, to 3,000. With the addition of new departments, the original number of 12 professors increased to about 140. Only 12 years after the MHH was founded, 80 per cent of the planned departments and clinics had been realised.

As the MHH is both an academic and a clinical institution, the following watchword was chosen to express its commitment to its ideals and goals:

Unitas in necessariis,

Unity in what is necessary,

Libertas in dubiis,

Liberty in case of doubt,

Caritas in omnibus,

Charity in all things.

The Rectors and Presidents of the MHH

An overview