What Is the Hamburger SV Logo?
The Hamburger SV logo is a white square standing on its point, with a broad black and white border, on a blue background. Fans call it the Raute, the diamond, and it carries no letters or numbers at all.
Hamburger SV is the football club from Hamburg, Germany. It traces its history to SC Germania, founded on 29 September 1887, and took its present form through a merger on 2 June 1919.
The blue diamond is available as the Hamburger SV logo SVG.
Hamburger SV Logo Facts
| Introduced | In use for more than a century, essentially unchanged |
| Symbol | A square turned on its point, known as the Raute |
| Logo type | Abstract mark: a geometric diamond |
| Owner | Hamburger SV |
What the Hamburger SV Logo Means
The Hamburger SV logo honours SC Germania, one of the three clubs that formed HSV in 1919. Its blue and black were Germania's colours and were put into the logo in its honour.
- The diamond: borrowed from a symbol often used by Hamburg merchant shipping.
- The blue: linked to the city's maritime tradition.
- The Blue Peter: the signal flag for "all hands on board" is also said to have been a model.
Because the square stands on its point, people in Hamburg call it a Raute, a rhombus. The shape needs no words.
Hamburger SV Logo History
The Hamburger SV logo has stayed essentially the same for more than a century, with only the width of the square changing.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1887 | SC Germania is founded on 29 September |
| 1919 | Three clubs merge into Hamburger SV on 2 June |
| 1963 | HSV joins the first Bundesliga season |
| 1983 | HSV wins the European Cup |
| 2018 | HSV is relegated for the first time |
| 2025 | HSV wins promotion back to the Bundesliga |
Who drew the diamond is not certain. The usual account names Otto Sommer, an HSV player who later worked as an advertising designer.
In 1996 another name came up, Henry Lütjens, as the possible inventor. The question cannot be settled with certainty.
The Diamond and the Red Shorts
HSV's logo is blue, black and white, yet the team plays in white shirts and red shorts. The kit uses the red and white of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.
- Club colours: blue, white and black, as set out in the statutes.
- Kit colours: red and white, in honour of the city.
- Nickname: Die Rothosen, the Red Shorts.
HSV is also called der Dinosaurier, the Dinosaur, as one of Germany's oldest clubs. It was the only founding Bundesliga member never relegated until 2017–18.
In 1983 HSV beat Juventus 1–0 in Athens to win the European Cup. The club's main rivals are Werder Bremen, in the Nordderby, and FC St. Pauli, in the Hamburg derby.
For more clubs like Hamburger SV, browse our sports logos.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the HSV logo called?
The Raute, German for rhombus or diamond. It is a white square on its point with a black and white border on blue.
Why is the HSV logo blue and black?
Blue and black were the colours of SC Germania, one of the clubs behind HSV. The logo took them over in Germania's honour.
Who designed the Hamburger SV logo?
It is not known for certain. Former player and advertising designer Otto Sommer is usually named, but in 1996 Henry Lütjens was put forward as the inventor.
Why does HSV play in red shorts?
Red and white are the colours of the city of Hamburg, which the club chose for its kit.