[125 Years German Central Committee for the Fight against Tuberculosis (DZK)].

The German Central Committee for the Fight against Tuberculosis (DZK) celebrates this year its 125 birthday. On this occasion, the DZK as one of the oldest TB organizations worldwide is looking back on the development during its history and records the results in a comprehensive book, summarized in this article. In the book, the various political changes with their impact on the DZK are mirrored, starting with the German Empire, the Weimar Republic, the so-called "Third Reich", the two German states separated after the Second World War and the current FRG.

[Pulmonary Medicine and its Institutions During National Socialism].

When the National Socialists came to power in 1933, a complete paradigm shift took place in the health policy under the principle "Public interest ahead of self-interest". In the early years there was an intense discussion about whether tuberculosis (TB) is more caused by heredity or by infection. Finally, the arguments of leading TB specialists were accepted that TB is predominantly an infectious disease.

[50 years WATL (Scientific Working Group for the Therapy of Lung Diseases)].

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Scientific Working Group for the Therapy of Lung Diseases (WATL) the history is described from its foundation to the present situation. Research topics during this long period are specified and the studies are briefly outlined. In the beginning, WATL was engaged mainly in studies on tuberculosis, later on, the spectrum of WATL was broadened considerably to diseases like sarcoidosis, pulmonary Langerhans' cell histiocytosis, pulmonary emphysema due to α1-antitrypsin deficiency, chronic obstructive bronchitis and bronchial asthma as well as nontuberculous mycobacterioses.

[100 years DGP -100 years of pneumology in Germany].

During the first half of its 100-year history, tuberculosis was predominant in the German Society of Pneumology (DGP). This led largely to the separation of pneumology from internal medicine, particularly in the universities. Since the 1960s, the spectrum of respiratory diseases has changed considerably.