German Physical Society
The German Physical Society began its life in 1845 within the walls of a Berlin palace. Gustav Magnus had hosted scholars there for decades before the group formally organized. This gathering marked the start of the oldest physics organization still active today. By 1918, membership numbers hovered around 750 individuals across Germany. The early years focused on connecting isolated researchers through regular meetings and shared publications. Arnold Sommerfeld later led efforts to modernize these communications when journals became too voluminous. A committee including Albert Einstein helped launch new ways to share rapid research findings. These initial steps laid the groundwork for a century of scientific exchange.
On the 7th of April 1933, barely two months after Adolf Hitler came to power, a law removed Jewish civil servants from their jobs. Physics suffered heavily as 25% of academic physicists lost positions during 1932 and 1933. Max von Laue stood firm against this tide while serving as chairman of the society. He compared the persecution of Galileo to the attacks on Einstein's theory of relativity labeled as Jewish physics. Johannes Stark tried to become dictator of physics under Nazi ideology but failed to gain support. In 1933, Stark ran for president of the DPG against Karl Mey and received only two votes. Carl Ramsauer steered a relatively independent course from regime lines between 1940 and 1945. Early in 1942, Ramsauer submitted a petition to Reich Minister Bernhard Rust about the state of physics instruction. This document addressed how politicization had damaged education across Germany. At the end of 1938, the society called on its Jewish members to withdraw their membership.
After World War II ended in 1946, Max von Laue initiated the founding of a new organization in the British Zone. The Allied Control Council would not initially allow organizations across occupation zone boundaries. Separate groups formed individually in the American and French sectors before uniting in West Germany in 1950. Federal Republic of Germany officially formed on the 23rd of May 1949 before these groups could merge fully. It was only after the fall of the Berlin Wall that the DPG again fully unified across Germany. The Physical Society of East Germany merged with the main body following reunification in 1990. This process restored a single national voice for German physicists after decades of fragmentation. The split reflected the broader political division of the country during the Cold War era.
The primary conferences hosted by DPG are the DPG-Spring-Meetings held annually at venues across Germany. These events promote sharing information about the latest findings in physics without conducting research themselves. The DPG-Fall-Meetings focus around a single research topic each year. A nationwide network exists for physics students through the Young DPG working group. Workshops and networking meetings help connect young researchers to established professionals. Since 1997, an annual conference for women in physics has been supported by the society until 2019. Students from the Bonn-Cologne Graduate School attend the BCGS Weekend Seminar retreat. This event includes lectures across several areas plus excursions and social gatherings. Around 8,000 papers appear in the yearly Programme Booklets listing abstracts of presentations. These gatherings serve as vital hubs for idea exchange among scientists from all backgrounds.
The highest awards presented by the DPG include the Max Planck Medal first awarded in 1929. This honor recognizes work in theoretical physics with international repute. The Stern, Gerlach Medal follows for experimental physics achievements starting in 1933. Some prizes like the Gustav Hertz Prize aim to foster young talent specifically. Other honors come through cooperation with organizations abroad such as the Max Born Medal or Otto Hahn Prize. The Medal for Natural Science Journalism rewards those communicating scientific facts to the general public effectively. Prizes go to school graduates across the country for outstanding achievements known as the DPG-Abiturpreis. Competitions support national research contests for young scientists nationwide. Since 2002, a specific division recognizes contributions using physical methods to understand socio-economic problems. These programs maintain high standards while encouraging diversity within the field.
From its creation in 1845, the society published Zeitschrift für Physik alongside other periodicals. By 1919 that journal became too voluminous so Arnold Sommerfeld formed a committee to create something new. A new journal began publication the following year without peer review for established scientists. In 1975 one title merged with Physics of Condensed Matter under Springer-Verlag auspices. During the early twentieth century it was considered one of the most prestigious journals globally. Quantum mechanics golden years coincided with this publication's peak influence. Today the membership journal provides news reports from the DPG and about physics generally. Partnerships with the British Institute of Physics produce the electronic open access New Journal of Physics. Articles undergo strict peer review meeting stringent quality standards set by the partner organization. Conference programmes list abstracts of around 8,000 papers annually under Programme Booklets for DPG Conferences.
The DPG office headed by Chief Executive Bernhard Nunner sits in Bad Honnef near Bonn. This location hosts the physics conference center serving as an international brand for the discipline. Students and cutting-edge scientists meet here including Nobel Prize winners sharing thoughts on science levels. Teaching staff return time and again to attend advanced training courses relating to pure physics. The society also operates in Berlin running the Magnus-Haus since reunification with East Germany in 1990. Completed in 1760, this urban palace bears the name of natural scientist Gustav Magnus. It served as a regular meeting place during the nineteenth century leading to the Physical Society of Berlin founding in 1845. Today it functions as a venue for meetings and lectures on physical and socio-political issues. The historical archive resides within these walls preserving decades of scientific history.
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Common questions
When did the German Physical Society begin its operations?
The German Physical Society began its life in 1845 within the walls of a Berlin palace. Gustav Magnus had hosted scholars there for decades before the group formally organized.
What happened to Jewish physicists during the Nazi era under the German Physical Society?
On the 7th of April 1933, barely two months after Adolf Hitler came to power, a law removed Jewish civil servants from their jobs. Physics suffered heavily as 25% of academic physicists lost positions during 1932 and 1933.
How was the German Physical Society reorganized after World War II ended?
After World War II ended in 1946, Max von Laue initiated the founding of a new organization in the British Zone. The Physical Society of East Germany merged with the main body following reunification in 1990.
Which conferences does the German Physical Society host annually?
The primary conferences hosted by DPG are the DPG-Spring-Meetings held annually at venues across Germany. Around 8,000 papers appear in the yearly Programme Booklets listing abstracts of presentations.
When was the Max Planck Medal first awarded by the German Physical Society?
The highest awards presented by the DPG include the Max Planck Medal first awarded in 1929. This honor recognizes work in theoretical physics with international repute.
Where is the current office location of the German Physical Society situated?
The DPG office headed by Chief Executive Bernhard Nunner sits in Bad Honnef near Bonn. The society also operates in Berlin running the Magnus-Haus since reunification with East Germany in 1990.