During World War II there were working locations for the subcamp Sasel of Neuengamme concentration camp in the quarter.

Poppenbüttel lies on both sides of the Upper Alster river and is clearly separated from its neighbouring boroughs by uninhabited green zones and protected landscapes preserving wet and, in places, boggy depressions, and watercourses.

In the west the Susebek depression and Raakmoor region separate Poppenbüttel from Langenhorn and Hummelsbüttel; in the northwest the meadows on the Poppenbütteler Graben mark the border with the Schleswig-Holstein borough of Norderstedt, in the north the Mellingbek and Kupferteich delineate its boundary with Lemsahl-Mellingstedt and in the south the Alster valley forms the boundary with Wellingsbüttel.

[3] The Kupferteich, with a length of 900 metres was formed in the 14th century when the Mellingbek was impounded to create a mill pond.

[6] From September 1944 to April 1945, Jewish women from the subcamp Hamburg-Sasel were forced to build houses in this quarter.