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Okay, I'm about to do some incredibly lame free advertising for @Lufthansa, arising from a retweet of
@TheLocalEurope, but you come here for the history, so you can just deal with it.
Germany's most recognized airline is Lufthansa. Here's where the name comes from...
@TheLocalEurope, but you come here for the history, so you can just deal with it.
Germany's most recognized airline is Lufthansa. Here's where the name comes from...
@lufthansa @TheLocalEurope In the 13th and 14th centuries, the Baltic and the North Sea was one of the most heavily trafficked maritime areas in the world. Not only were ships taking trade goods between the towns and cities that were emerging, but they were doing a hell of a lot of fishing... 
@lufthansa @TheLocalEurope In fact, things could be so cramped in the Baltic & North Seas, what with the fishing & trade and what have you, that trade wars broke out - sometimes becoming an open conflict.
This was when many of the emerging coastal cities in what is now Germany put their heads together...
This was when many of the emerging coastal cities in what is now Germany put their heads together...
Lübeck was the first city in what is now Germany - and the first city really in general - to start organizing on a large scale protections for traders and an early form of 'free trade'.
Over time, ports along the north German coast and on rivers close to the ocean got in on the action - Bremen, Hamburg, Rostock.
Soon it was a huge deal, dominating trade in the region. They even set up in places like Norway and England.
Soon it was a huge deal, dominating trade in the region. They even set up in places like Norway and England.
This was the Hanseatic League - Hansa means 'convoy', sorta - and it made a lot of people very rich.
You can tell, because there's some pretty spectacular buildings left in former Hanseatic cities, built with all that lovely money.
You can tell, because there's some pretty spectacular buildings left in former Hanseatic cities, built with all that lovely money.
So when they were digging around for a name for Germany's first big real airline, evoking the Hanseatic League was a natural choice.
Hence 'Luft' (Air) + 'hansa' (Glorious medieval trading organization)!
Damn, I'm an idiot!
Hence 'Luft' (Air) + 'hansa' (Glorious medieval trading organization)!
Damn, I'm an idiot!
So, @Lufthansa travel to a ridonkulous number of destinations, including several former Hanseatic cities, that are glorious and you should totally visit them.
Also they are friendly and comfortable as heck.
This is not an ad, honest. Unless they want it to be. THE END.
Also they are friendly and comfortable as heck.
This is not an ad, honest. Unless they want it to be. THE END.
