In the inaugural Bundestag election, it was Lower Saxony constituency 26 in the numbering system.

Originally, the constituency comprised the independent city of Hildesheim and the district of Hildesheim-Marienburg.

The constituency was first held by Heinrich-Wilhelm Ruhnke of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), who served from 1949 to 1953.

Adolf Cillien of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) won it in 1953 and served a single term.

He was succeeded by fellow CDU member Theodor Oberländer, who also served a single term.

Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.

Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.

Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.

Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.