One Hundred Years of the German Soil Science Society (DBG) 1926–2026: Origins, Facts, and Background of an Eventful History

ABSTRACT On its 100th anniversary in 2026, the German Soil Science Society (DBG) is looking back not only on an eventful history with traditions and impressive achievements but also with painful interruptions and ruptures. One curious fact is that the DBG was initially founded as the national section of the International Soil Science Society (ISSS). German soil scientists, that is, F. Schucht, E.A. Mitscherlich, H. Stremme, and G.A. Krauß, played a decisive role in shaping the early development of the ISSS. Emil Ramann can undoubtedly be regarded as a nestor and pioneer of ISSS, which was founded in Rome in 1924. F. Schucht served as editor‐in‐chief of ISSS publications and ISSS President from 1935 to 1940. O. Lemmermann was the first DBG President. He founded the Zeitschrift für Pflanzenernährung , Düngung und Bodenkunde (now known as Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science ), serving as the society's official publication. During the Nazi regime, soil science increasingly placed itself at the service of the political system. As Managing Director of DBG and in several other roles, F. Giesecke was the driving force behind the process of bringing institutions relevant to the self‐sufficiency initiative into line ( Gleichschaltung ). The reconstruction of the DBG in war‐torn Germany in 1949 was overshadowed by the looming division of Germany. Nevertheless, the DBG managed to operate as a pan‐German scientific society until 1961, the year the Berlin Wall was built. Although a separate soil science society existed in parallel in the former German Democratic Republic between 1967 and the reunification in 1990, for political reasons, ties were indirectly maintained. This helped foster the process of integration following reunification. The outstanding personality in the 1950s and 1960s was undoubtedly F. Scheffer, who was the first Managing Director and then served as President of the DBG (1955–1969). The commission structure and the major conferences, with their field excursions, remained a key constant. A highlight was the successful organization of the 13th World Soil Congress in Hamburg in 1986 by K.H. Hartge (ISSS President 1982–1986). Over the years, the DBG has combined basic research and methodology with a strong focus on practical application. The dynamics of its membership reflect the transformation from a small, originally rather elitist circle of soil‐related experts to an open, pluralistic community. Initially, DBG topics were typically related to agricultural and horticultural questions (soil and plant nutrition), pedogenesis (geology, mineralogy), amelioration, and forestry. Within the last 50 years, this character changed to a much broader environment‐related discipline. While soil science has long been male‐dominated at the management level, the proportion of women—including at the executive level—has grown steadily in recent decades. Together with strategic partners, DBG also seeks dialogue with politics and society. The stable high number of members and the remarkable proportion of younger members, a pronounced diversity of topics, and strong networking from the local to the international level testify to the DBG's continuing attractiveness, performance, and unbroken innovative strength.