September 23, 2025, 3:03 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
The currywurst was invented in Berlin—or was it somewhere else? The assumption about the origin of this iconic dish has been turned on its head. Two authors are tracing the birthplace of the currywurst and have found it in Duisburg. What this means and who really invented the currywurst—TRAVELBOOK investigates.
The two authors, Gregor Laurenburger and Tim Koch, researched the history of the currywurst. In September 2024, their book “Alles Currywurst–oder was?” was published. As reported by the “Tagesschau,” they conducted interviews with eyewitnesses and combed through all documents that should shed light on the full truth of the currywurst.
Peter Pomm Is the Inventor of the Currywurst
The authors made a discovery in a “Pusztetten-Stube” in Duisburg-Marxloh. Currywurst was already being served here before Herta Heuwer’s invention in Berlin—with a difference of 13 years. Tim Koch clarifies to the “Tagesschau”: “As early as 1936, Peter Pomm, as everyone called Peter Johann Hildebrand, sprinkled curry powder over a sausage in tomato sauce.” He prepared this for his workers at the sausage factory. There is evidence for this: “We have seen and published the invoice for the delivery of British curry powder to Peter Johann Hildebrand. Issued from the Hamburg port,” Gregor Lauenburger emphasizes.
Presentation of a Memorial Plaque
It is now clear: The currywurst was invented in Duisburg. On Monday, September 22, 2025, the official recognition of the inventor followed: The mayor of Duisburg affixed a brass plaque in DIN-A3 size to the snack stand. This day is also the birthday of Peter Johann Hildebrand and was declared “Currywurst Day” in Duisburg. The birth of the currywurst was thus renewed—previously, it was on September 4, 1949, in Berlin. Kai Homann from the city marketing “Duisburg Kontor” explains, according to “Tagesschau”: “Actually, we Potters always knew that we invented the currywurst, and now it should become visible and tangible here in Duisburg.”
Since the publication of the authors’ book on the currywurst, much has changed. Visitor numbers at Peter Pomm’s “Pusztetten-Stube” are rising—now even from regions outside the Ruhr area. Gregor Laurenburger and Tim Koch received a lot of attention for their currywurst work and conducted several interviews. However, inquiries from Berlin remained rather critical.
Duisburg now claims to be the official birthplace of the currywurst. And this, despite the fact that the currywurst has long been considered to have originated in Berlin, where a currywurst museum even opened in 2009.