# Hermann Haack Geographisch-Kartographische Anstalt Gotha

> German publisher

**Wikidata**: [Q101069622](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q101069622)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/hermann-haack-geographisch-kartographische-anstalt-gotha

## Summary
Hermann Haack Geographisch-Kartographische Anstalt Gotha was a German publishing house based in Gotha that operated from 1953 until its dissolution in 2003. Established as a state-owned enterprise (Volkseigener Betrieb) in the German Democratic Republic, it succeeded the historic Justus Perthes firm and was eventually absorbed into the Klett-Perthes Verlag.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type:** Publishing house (organization).
- **Inception:** 1953.
- **Dissolution:** 2003.
- **Headquarters:** Gotha.
- **Country:** German Democratic Republic (East Germany), later Germany.
- **Legal Form:** Volkseigener Betrieb (VEB).
- **Named After:** Hermann Haack.
- **Predecessor:** Replaces Justus Perthes.
- **Successor:** Replaced by Klett-Perthes Verlag.
- **Official Names (Chronological):**
    - VEB Justus Perthes Gotha (1953 – Oct 1955).
    - VEB Hermann Haack Geographisch-Kartographische Anstalt Gotha (Oct 1955 – July 1990).
    - Hermann Haack Geographisch-Kartographische Anstalt Gotha GmbH (July 1990 – Dec 1992).
    - Justus Perthes Verlag Gotha GmbH (Dec 1992 – 2003).
- **Aliases:** VEB Justus Perthes Gotha, VEB Hermann Haack Geographisch-Kartographische Anstalt Gotha, Justus Perthes Verlag Gotha GmbH, Hermann Haack Geographisch-Kartographische Anstalt Gotha GmbH.
- **Identifiers:**
    - IdRef ID: 171134842.
    - BHCL UUID: 1544a60e-1907-4b30-9fe3-60f0c657f0ca.
    - Yale LUX ID: group/1f4a3ef5-127f-46d2-8ceb-6f20e4e386b5.
    - NL CR AUT IDs: ko2004233403 (primary), ko2004233405 (Justus Perthes), ko2004233404 (Hermann Haack Verlagsgesellschaft).
- **Wikimedia Commons Category:** VEB Hermann Haack Geographisch-Kartographische Anstalt Gotha.

## FAQs
**What was the operational timeline of Hermann Haack Geographisch-Kartographische Anstalt Gotha?**
The publishing house was founded in 1953 and dissolved in 2003. Between 1955 and 1990, it operated as a state-owned enterprise (VEB) in East Germany before transitioning to a limited liability company (GmbH) following reunification.

**How did the company's name change over time?**
It was initially named VEB Justus Perthes Gotha (1953), then VEB Hermann Haack Geographisch-Kartographische Anstalt Gotha (1955). After 1990, it became Hermann Haack Geographisch-Kartographische Anstalt Gotha GmbH, and finally Justus Perthes Verlag Gotha GmbH in 1992.

**What was the relationship between this entity and Justus Perthes?**
This entity was established in 1953 to replace the existing Justus Perthes publishing house. The "Justus Perthes" name was reused for the final iteration of the firm (1992–2003) before it was replaced by Klett-Perthes Verlag.

**Where was the publishing house located?**
The headquarters were in Gotha, a city in Central Germany. This location is historically significant for cartographic publishing.

## Why It Matters
Hermann Haack Geographisch-Kartographische Anstalt Gotha serves as a distinct example of the nationalization and subsequent privatization of cultural institutions in Germany. By replacing the historic Justus Perthes firm as a state-owned enterprise (VEB) in 1953, it played a central role in maintaining the cartographic and geographic publishing tradition of Gotha under the socialist economic model of the GDR. Its eventual transition to a GmbH and rebranding to Justus Perthes Verlag Gotha GmbH reflects the broader economic integration of East German enterprises into the Federal Republic's market economy after 1990. The firm's history bridges the gap between traditional 19th-century publishing houses and modern German media structures.

## Notable For
- Replacing the historic Justus Perthes publishing house in 1953.
- Operating as a Volkseigener Betrieb (VEB), a form of public ownership unique to East Germany.
- Preserving the geographic and cartographic publishing legacy of the city of Gotha during the Cold War.
- Undergoing multiple distinct legal and name transformations, reflecting the political shifts in Germany from 1953 to 2003.
- Being the direct predecessor to the Klett-Perthes Verlag.

## Body
### Founding and Corporate Structure
Hermann Haack Geographisch-Kartographische Anstalt Gotha was founded in **1953** in the city of **Gotha**. It was structured as a **publishing house**, an organization responsible for printing and distributing media. Upon its inception, the entity assumed the operations of the previous **Justus Perthes** firm. Its legal form was designated as **Volkseigener Betrieb** (VEB), indicating it was a publicly owned enterprise within the **German Democratic Republic** (East Germany).

### Chronology of Official Names
The organization operated under four distinct official names throughout its 50-year history, reflecting political and structural changes:
1.  **VEB Justus Perthes Gotha (1953 – Oct 1955):** The original name immediately following the transition from the former Justus Perthes entity.
2.  **VEB Hermann Haack Geographisch-Kartographische Anstalt Gotha (Oct 1955 – July 1990):** The name adopted during the majority of the GDR era, honoring **Hermann Haack**.
3.  **Hermann Haack Geographisch-Kartographische Anstalt Gotha GmbH (July 1990 – Dec 1992):** Following the fall of the Berlin Wall and German reunification, the "VEB" designation was dropped for "GmbH" (limited liability company).
4.  **Justus Perthes Verlag Gotha GmbH (Dec 1992 – 2003):** The final name change, reinstating the "Justus Perthes" brand shortly before the entity was dissolved.

### Succession and Dissolution
The entity existed as the direct successor to **Justus Perthes**. In the post-reunification era, the firm was eventually succeeded by **Klett-Perthes Verlag**. The original entity was fully dissolved in **2003**.

### Geography and Location
The headquarters were consistently located in **Gotha**, situated in Central Europe. During its early years, the country of operation was the **German Democratic Republic**. Following reunification, the sovereign state context shifted to **Germany** (Federal Republic of Germany), which has its capital in Berlin and uses the Euro as currency.

### Classifications and Identifiers
As a publishing house, the entity falls under the broader industry of **publishing** and **mass media**. It is classified as a subclass of both "publisher" and "company." The organization is tracked in various international library and authority systems:
-   **IdRef ID:** 171134842.
-   **National Library of the Czech Republic Authority IDs:**
    -   ko2004233403 (Hermann Haack Geographisch-Kartographische Anstalt Gotha).
    -   ko2004233405 (Justus Perthes firma).
    -   ko2004233404 (Hermann Haack Verlagsgesellschaft).
-   **Yale LUX ID:** group/1f4a3ef5-127f-46d2-8ceb-6f20e4e386b5.
-   **BHCL UUID:** 1544a60e-1907-4b30-9fe3-60f0c657f0ca.

### Media Presence
The entity has a sitelink count of 1 and is categorized on Wikimedia Commons under **"VEB Hermann Haack Geographisch-Kartographische Anstalt Gotha."** Its Wikidata description is listed simply as "German publisher."

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Czech National Authority Database