Willy Gehler (1876-1953): pioneering research, political self-mobilization and historical reception of a major civil engineer and university teacher in the century of extremes

对威利·盖勒的跨学科研究项目的研究对世纪土木工程师的职业和社会史都有贡献。在该项目的第一阶段，Willy Gehler在三个不同的背景下被观察，这也将在第二阶段进一步调查： 威利盖勒作为一个土木工程师，- 盖勒的传记和他的政治定位， 研究项目的第一阶段展示了Gehler在钢筋和预应力混凝土领域的技术专长。它与德累斯顿实验和材料测试办公室密切相关，该办公室是当时最重要的同类设施之一。1918年至1945年，该机构在Gehler的指导下进行了有关钢筋混凝土的基础研究，并推导出了新的先进计算方法。根据进一步的迹象表明，德累斯顿可以被认为是一个核心的探索预应力混凝土，特别是预应力钢丝混凝土。在第一阶段的研究中，调查了Gehler被任命为这一有影响力的职位的原因，还确定了许多其他研究项目，这些项目在项目启动之前是未知的，现在是申请第二阶段资助的基础。首先，盖勒的专业知识应该被视为与材料无关，特别是在钢结构领域。除此之外，Gehler在研究，工业和社会中的网络应进行调查，因为它们似乎与研究项目的获取和他的研究成果的分布特别相关。预应力钢丝混凝土仍然是第二阶段的研究重点，被视为钢筋混凝土的节省钢材的替代方案，并在纳粹时代得到政治机构的支持。在这方面，申请人希望得到关于盖勒政治立场的进一步解释。第一阶段的研究表明，盖勒的思想模式深深植根于德意志帝国时代，这也可能与他在纳粹时代的行为有关。在项目的第二阶段，他的同事库尔特·拜尔的遗产将被分析。对这座大型庄园的初步检查显示了有关盖勒的信息，例如他与拜尔的关系。"盖勒是'不受欢迎的人'"这一论点还不能得出结论。一方面，当他还活着的时候，他的同事们为他的康复而奔走，并在科学期刊上发表文章，另一方面，在他死去的盖勒消失后，他被遗忘了。在1960年代，他被描绘成一个坚定的国家社会主义者，然而，在1980年代，在专业文学中可以再次找到赞赏的奉献。在第二阶段的研究中，将在政治和社会背景下考虑这种明显矛盾的承认文化。

The research in the interdisciplinary research project about Willy Gehler contributes to the profession and the social history of civil engineers in the 20th century. Within the 1st phase of such a project, Willy Gehler was viewed in three different contexts, which will be further investigated in the 2nd Phase as well:- Willy Gehler as a civil engineer,- Gehler’s biography and his political positioning,- Gehler as a persona non grata.The 1st phase of the research project illustrated Gehler’s technical expertise in the field of reinforced and prestressed concrete. It is closely associated with the Experimental and Material Testing Office Dresden which was one of the most important facility of its kind at that time. This institution, under the direction of Gehler from 1918 until 1945, conducted fundamental research about reinforced concrete and deduced new advanced calculation approaches. According to further indications, Dresden can be considered as a nucleus of the exploration of prestressed concrete, especially of prestressed wire concrete. Within the research in phase 1, the reasons for Gehler’s appointment to this influential position were investigated, numerous other research projects were determined as well, which were unknown before the project was launched and now are the base to apply to a 2nd funding phase. Primarily, Gehler’s professional expertise is supposed to be viewed material-independent, especially in the field of steel construction. Beyond, Gehler’s networks in research, industry, and society shall be investigated since they seem to be of particular relevance for the acquisition of research projects and the distribution of his research results. The prestressed wire concrete, which remains a research focus in phase 2, was seen as a steel-saving alternative to reinforced concrete and it was supported by the political establishment during the Nazi era. In this regard, the applicants hope to get further explanations about Gehler’s political position.The 1st phase of the research provided indications that Gehler’s mode of thought was deeply rooted in the era of German Empire, which also could be relevant for his actions during the Nazi era. Within the 2nd phase of the project, the estate of his colleague Kurt Beyer will be analysed. An initial inspection of this large estate indicates information about Gehler and, e.g. his relationship to Beyer. The thesis “Gehler as ‘persona non grata’” could not be discussed conclusively, yet. On one side, colleagues campaigned for his rehabilitation and dedicated articles in scientific journals to him when he was still alive, on the other side after his dead Gehler vanished into oblivion. In the 1960s, he was depicted as a convinced National Socialist, however, in the 1980s appreciative dedications can be found again in professional literature. The apparently contradictory culture of recognition is to be considered in the political and social context within the 2nd phase of research.