[History of orthopedics in East Germany 1949-1990]

The following article deals with the essential aspects of the history of German orthopedics between 1949 and 1990 in the German Democratic Republic (GDR). Starting from the prevailing situation after World War II, the growth of orthopedic care in the GDR is described and the development of national orthopedic centers in the former GDR is summarized. In this context, reference is made to those public figures who played a leading role in this process, in particular F. Löffler, P.F. Scheel, and P.F. Matzen. In addition, the influence of social conditions in the GDR on the development of orthopedics and the resultant constraints are presented. Moreover, this contribution depicts the progress of orthopedic science in the former GDR and describes such salient aspects as the appearance of the specialized journal Beiträge zur Orthopädie und Traumatologie (Essays on Orthopedics and Traumatology), the Gesellschaft für Orthopädie der DDR (Association for Orthopedics in the GDR), and the annual conferences held by the this association.