Eur. Phys. J. H 42, 395–430 (2017)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjh/e2017-70057-4

General relativity and the growth of a sub-discipline “gravitation” in Germany

Institute for Theoretical Physics, University Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany

^a e-mail: goenner@theorie.physik.uni-goettingen.de

Received: 12 October 2016
Received in final form: 4 May 2017
Published online: 3 July 2017

Abstract

The growth of research on general relativity in Germany from its origin in 1915 to the beginning of the 1990s is described. A gradual evolution from research done by single physicists and mathematicians to the eventual institutionalizion in the form of a research institute and subdivision of physical society is brought into focus.