The name Hintergasse (Back Lane) is today limited to the narrow cross-street from the Malzergasse to the synagogue. Until the early 19th century, however, it was used for most of the wall passage - already envisaged in the Rechtstadt charter (the founding document of Danzig's main town) - which ran behind the wall of the Rechtstadt along its south, west, and north fronts. Much of this passage has since been built over.

The name formerly encompassed what are now the Dienergasse, Hintergasse, Kleine Gerbergasse, Kleine Wollwebergasse, Kleine Scharrmachergasse, Laternengasse, Mauergang, and Schornsteinfegergasse. Streets of similar origin in other parts of the city were also called Hintergasse, such as the Weissmonchen-Hintergasse in the Old Town in the 16th and 17th centuries, the Langgarter Hintergasse, or a section of the Weidengasse.

History