Hugo Sinzheimer (1875-1945) is well known as one of the founding fathers of labour law. He favoured an interdisciplinary approach, combining legal-positivistic with sociological analysis. His work still has a significant relevance, in particular in the field of collective labour law. His ideas have had a large impact on collective labour law in European as well as in other countries, for instance Japan.
Making his work accessible to researchers, and to others interested in his publications is the main goal of this website. We also propose an evaluation of the importance of his ideas, then as well as now.
It includes a concise biography, a complete list of his publications, and references to literature and websites on Sinzheimer and his work.
Some of his publications have been translated in English, which makes them accessible to readers not in command of the German language (see 1927h, 1930n & 1933b in the List of publications).
This year (2025) his 150th birthday has been celebrated in Frankfurt aM by way of a meeting at April 11th, organized by the Hugo Sinzheimer Institut / Hans Boeckler Stiftung [more here].
NEW:
* The Hugo Sinzheimer Institute Frankfurt has produced a documentary film on the life and work of Hugo Sinzheimer: https://www.hugo-sinzheimer-institut.de/hugo-sinzheimer-dokumentarfilm-71581.htm
* It is now possible to get digital access to documents and photo's from Sinzheimer's estate: https://www.hugo-sinzheimer-institut.de/sinzheimer-nachlass-68261.htm
* December 12th, 2025 there will be a meeting in commemoration of Hugo Sinzheimer at the Max Planck Institute in Frankfurt, Futher information: https://www.hugo-sinzheimer-institut.de/aktuelle-veranstaltungen-18181-jahrestagung-2025-der-initiative-arbeitsrechtsgeschichte-sinzheimer-international-71600.htm
* Added are Spanish translations of three publications of Sinzheimer (1920a, 1927h, 1930n).