Process for the preparation of chlorine-substituted aromatic amines

In a process for the preparation of a chlorinated aromatic amine by contacting a chlorinated aromatic nitro compound of the formula ##STR5## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are identical or different and denote hydrogen or chlorine with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst under a pressure at elevated temperature in the presence of a solvent and a small amount of a basic compound, the improvement wherein said basic compound is ammonia, said ammonia being present in an amount of from 0.2 to 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of said chlorinated aromatic nitro compound and said hydrogenation catalyst is a platinum hydrogenation catalyst.