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

关于Willy Gehler的跨学科研究项目对20世纪土木工程师的专业和社会史做出了贡献。在这个项目的第一阶段，威利·盖勒被置于三种不同的背景下，这将在第二阶段进一步研究：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，-盖勒作为一个不受欢迎的人。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，该办公室是当时同类机构中最重要的设施之一。从1918年到1945年，在Gehler的指导下，该机构进行了关于钢筋混凝土的基础研究，并推导出新的先进计算方法。根据进一步的迹象，德累斯顿可以被认为是预应力混凝土，特别是预应力钢丝混凝土探索的核心。在第一阶段的研究中，对Gehler被任命为这个有影响力的职位的原因进行了调查，并确定了许多其他研究项目，这些项目在项目启动前是未知的，现在是申请第二阶段资助的基础。首先，Gehler的专业知识应该被视为与材料无关，特别是在钢结构领域。此外，Gehler在研究、工业和社会中的网络也应该被调查，因为它们似乎与研究项目的获得和他的研究成果的分布特别相关。预应力钢丝混凝土仍是第二阶段的研究重点，它被视为钢筋混凝土的节钢替代品，在纳粹时代得到了政治机构的支持。在这方面，申请人希望得到关于Gehler政治立场的进一步解释。第一阶段的研究表明，盖勒的思维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Kurt Beyer的遗产将被分析。对这个大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’”这一论题目前还不能得出结论。一方面，他的同事们为他的康复而奔走，并在他还活着的时候在科学期刊上专门为他写文章，另一方面，他死去的盖勒消失在人们的遗忘中。在20世纪60年代，他被描绘成一个坚定的国家社会主义者，然而，在20世纪80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.