title: [History of the German Society for the Abatement of Rheumatism 1927-1945].
abstract: The need to unite physicians working in the field of rheumatology in a medical society became clear following statistical analysis in the 1920s, which showed the significant economic loss resulting rheumatological disease. An international association of physicians active in the field of balneology was established in 1926 in Piestany in today's Slovakia. In 1927, the "German Section of the International Committee of Research and Therapy of Rheumatism" was founded in Bad Schreiberhau. In August 1927, the section changed into the "German Society for the Abatement of Rheumatism". The takeover of the National Socialists lead to a reorganisation of the society. The leaders insisted on a change in the previous democratic constitution to the so-called "Führerprinzip" (leader principle). The outbreak of war in 1939 lead to a further cesura in the activities of the society, which were impeded by personal and material deficiencies and were ceased in 1945 due to the war.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik II des Universitätsklinikums Gießen-Marburg, Standort Gießen. torsten.hewelt@innere.med.uni-giessen.de
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hewelt
mesh_terms: D005858:Germany; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000266:history* / Q000628:therapy*; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000266:history*; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000266:history*