General relativity and the growth of a sub-discipline "gravitation" in the German speaking physics community

We will follow the growth of gravitational theory in Germany from 1915 to the 1990s, i.e., relativistic theories of gravitation, mainly Einstein’s, as a branch of physics in the sense of social, more precisely institutional history. As criteria for a continued professionalizing of the field, we use the numbers of published research papers, reviews, monographs, courses at universities, appointments of lecturers or professors as well as the status of those involved (members of academies). The foundation of special institutes for gravitational research and of particular divisions of physical societies forms the final stage of this process of institutionalization. At present, an institutionalization of research in relativistic gravitation has been achieved in Germany through a thriving topical section “Relativity and Gravitation” of the German Physical Society and a Max-Planck-Institute for Gravitational Physics. While an institutionalization of the field became achieved, the situation for young German relativists for entering into research in the field was not noticeably improved. Much of research in general relativity still is done at universities in rather small groups, the continuity of which is not guaranteed.

💡 Research Summary

The paper traces the institutional development of general relativity within the German‑speaking physics community from Einstein’s 1915 formulation to the late 1990s. Using five quantitative indicators—research papers, review articles, monographs, university courses, and academic appointments—the author maps the field’s evolution through distinct historical phases. In the immediate post‑World‑War I period, activity was confined to a small elite around Berlin, Göttingen and Vienna, with notable contributions from Einstein, Hilbert, Klein and others. The interwar years saw a burst of popular interest but limited scholarly uptake, while the rise of the Nazi regime in the 1930s caused a severe contraction of relativistic research. After World War II, the field remained marginal until the 1960s, when relativistic astrophysics (black holes, cosmology, gravitational waves) revived interest and led to a steady increase in PhD production and dedicated university courses. The 1970s‑1990s marked the final stage of professionalization: the German Physical Society created a “Relativity and Gravitation” section, regular conferences were organized, and in 1995 the Max‑Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics was founded, providing a permanent institutional hub. International collaboration, especially with scholars from the United States and the United Kingdom, is counted as an activity indicator, underscoring the field’s growing global integration. Despite these achievements, the author argues that institutionalization has not fully translated into stable career pathways for young relativists. Research remains fragmented across small university groups, funding is limited, and the transition from post‑doctoral positions to permanent professorships is precarious, threatening continuity. The study concludes that while general relativity has become a recognized sub‑discipline in German‑language physics, its future vitality depends on stronger links between large research institutes and universities, and on long‑term support mechanisms for early‑career scientists.