Jaspar Hanebuth

„Hanebuth’s Block“ at the Hanover ZooPicture postcard number "283", circa 1898 by Karl F. Wunder

The entrance of Hanebuth's Gang' on the high banks forms a line with the portal of the Royal Hofmarstall and the Kreuzkirche.

Jasper Hanebuth (baptised 8 February 1607 – 4 February 1653) was a German mercenary in the Thirty Years' War, as well as a robber and murderer.

Life Jasper Hanebuth was born on the "Hof Pieper", a rebuilt half-timbered complex which today is listed on Buchholz-Kirchweg 72. He was the son of Hans Hanebuth, a cotter in Groß-Buchholz, Then, after spending nearly a year in prison, on 3–4 February 1653, he was sentenced "to be judged by the breaking wheel by his limbs from life to death". However, many legends surrounding the robber can not be confirmed from historical sources; according to legend, he had stretched a string over the forest chapel, which was connected with a small bell, so as to be rung when merchants came by. Nor was his home a robber's den in the Eilenriede. Similarly, it has not been proven that he supported the poor from the nearby village of Groß-Buchholz with his prey. A cross that existed at the beginning of the stone gate field from the time before Hanebuth's execution was later incorrectly assigned to the event, but then in 1929, it was given the name White Cross Square on the Lister mile. "Hanebuth's gang" on the high bank "is probably the remainder of a passage under the city wall to the leash", which was filled up after a short distance. At the turn of the 19th century there were still postcards with the motif of "Hanebuth's Block" on the Schiffgraben in front of the former entrance building of the zoo. The 1967 street Hanebuthwinkel in Groß-Buchholz on the Eilenriede at Steuerdieb reminds with their naming of the robber. An additional sign with the inscription "Jasper Hanebuth's last victim", was attached to the concrete base below the armless sculpture. Related to Hanebuth is the 2010 history novel "The Concubine of the murderer" by Bettina Szrama, in which Hanebuth is seen as "a resurrection as a dark novel hero".