History of the University
Polytechnic School
The history of the KIT begins with the founding of the Polytechnic School in Karlsruhe in 1825 by the Grand Duchy of Baden. The suggestion for its creation came from Johann Gottfried Tulla (1770 – 1828), who headed an engineering school in Karlsruhe that was founded in 1807 and from Friedrich Weinbrenner (1766 – 1828), who headed the Karlsruhe school of architecture founded in the 18th century. The Polytechnic School initially shared the use of the building south of the church on the main market square (Karlsruher Marktplatz) with the Karlsruhe Lyceum. The number of pupils in the first years remains unknown, but likely numbered over 100. The teaching staff initially comprised twelve members. Initially, the minimum age for students was thirteen. The school was divided into a ‘general class’, also referred to as the ‘preliminary class’, as well as into the ‘mathematical class’ and the ‘commercial and trade class’, the latter of which was divided into a technical and mercantile department.
In 1832, a fundamental reorganization of the Polytechnic School was carried out by the State Councilor of Baden, Karl Friedrich Nebenius. The incorporation of the engineering school and of the school of architecture allowed for the establishment of departments within a single institution, a characteristic that largely shaped the general development of technical schools into technical universities. The institute was divided into a first general mathematics class and a second mathematics class, as well as into technical schools such as an engineering school, an architecture school, a higher vocational school, a trade school and a forestry school. Of particular significance for the further development of the school were the appointments of the mechanical engineer Ferdinand Redtenbacher and the chemist Karl Weltzien. Both were responsible for the division of the higher vocational school into a department for chemical engineering on the one hand and mechanical engineering on the other.
In 1836 the Polytechnic School was given its own quarters in the west wing of today’s main building along the Kaiserstrasse. In 1851 a laboratory for the chemical engineering school was erected directly north of the main building and in 1859 the mechanical engineering school was built north-east of the main building. From 1859 to 1864 the main building was expanded upon to include an east wing and a connecting structure between the two buildings. In the 1850s and 1860s, thanks to Redtenbacher’s school of mechanical engineering and Weltziens chemical engineering school, the Polytechnic School experienced its first moment of prestige. During this time, the number of pupils rose to over 800.
Technical College
In 1865, the polytechnical school rose in status to become more like a “technical university”. By the beginning of the next decade, it became possible to complete a degree (1867) and a qualification as a private lecturer (1868). Starting in 1873, courses of study were no longer divided only into years, but also into semesters. In 1885, the school name was changed to "Technische Hochschule".
Another statute reform in 1895 further aligned the institution with university forms of organization through the introduction of the rectorate and the senate constitution, as well as departmental colleges. In the same year, the department of electrical engineering came into being.
In 1895, following the Prussian model, the Technical University of Karlsruhe received the right to award the degree “Diplom-Ingenieur (Dipl.-Ing.)”, a Doctorate in engineering (Dr.-Ing.) and an honorary doctorate in engineering. These degrees could initially be acquired in the fields of architecture, civil engineering, chemistry, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering.
During this time, the architecture department was given its own building with a main assembly hall for the entire institution. The inauguration of the Institute for Electrical Engineering and the Botanical Institute also took place during this period. In 1902, the university requested and received the right from the grand duke of Baden to name itself “Fridericiana”. The following year, the rector was granted the title “Magnificence”.
For the period after the first world war, one significant change that took place was the relocation of the Forestry Department to the University of Freiburg in 1920. After the first world war, an expansion took place with the construction of the Civil Engineering Department building in 1921. At the northern edge of the campus, a sports complex, with a grandstand still in use today, was built, driven by Professor Wilhelm Paulcke. In the same year, student housing and a cafeteria along today’s Adenauer Ring road, were inaugurated.
The period of National Socialism was marked by a decline in student numbers. The Mechanical engineering and electrical engineering departments merged in 1934. A number of university employees lost their positions at Fridericiana because of racially and politically motivated persecution. Doctoral degrees were also revoked due to racial persecution. Most buildings of the Technical University suffered severe damage from air raids in 1943 and 1944. The main assembly hall was also completely destroyed.
With the end of the second world war, the University initially closed, reopening in February 1946. The reconstruction was done by enlisting students, who need to work up to 1,000 hours.
Between 1948 to 1966, the University was divided into three main faculties for 1. Natural sciences and the humanities, 2. Civil engineering (including architecture), 3. Mechanical engineering (including electrical engineering). This began a phase of more divisions, which culminated in 1972 with the faculty for 1. Mathematics, 2. Physics, 3. Chemistry, 4. Bio and Geosciences, 5. Social sciences and the humanities, 6. Architecture, 7. Civil engineering and surveying, 8. Mechanical engineering, 9. Chemical engineering, 10. Electrical engineering, 11. Computer science, 12. Economics. This division of faculties remained mostly unchanged until 2002, when the Faculty of Bio and Geosciences was dissolved and its previous chairs and institutes went either into the renamed Faculty for Chemistry and Life Sciences or the Faculty for Civil Engineering, Earth and Environmental Sciences.
University of Karlsruhe (TH)
Starting in the 1960s, the university, which was renamed Universität Karlsruhe (TH) in 1967, underwent an extensive expansion, followed by internal divisions within the faculties established in 1972. When the data center became an indepenedent entity in 1966, another central infrastructure facility was created next to the university library. The Faculty of Computer Science was founded in 1972 - the first of its kind in Germany. In 1977, at the instigation of the state government of Baden-Württemberg, the student body of the University was dissolved. In1981, the University sold the student house with the cafeteria to the German State of Baden-Württemberg. Since then, the facility has operated as a public institution under the name “Studentenwerk”.
Since 2000, the University Council has been an advisory, planning and control body made up of external structures, the members of which are elected by the University Senate and appointed by the state’s Ministry of Science.
On October 1, 2009, the University merged with the Karlsruhe Research Center to form the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).
Organisational structure of the university area over time
1825-1832: General class (also called: preschool), mathematics class, trade and commerce class
1832-1843: 1st general mathematics class, 2nd general mathematics class; technical schools: Engineering school, building school, higher vocational school, commercial school, forestry school
1843-1847: 1. general mathematics class, 2. general mathematics class, 3. general mathematics class; technical schools: Engineering school, building school, higher vocational school, commercial school, forestry school
1847-1863: 1. general mathematics class, 2. general mathematics class, 3. general mathematics class; technical schools: Engineering school, building school, chemical-technical school, mechanical-technical school, business school, course for postal clerks' education, forestry school
1860-1863: 1. general mathematics class, 2. general mathematics class, 3. general mathematics class; technical schools: Engineering school, building school, chemical-technical school (from 1862 called: chemical school), mechanical engineering school, commercial school, post office school, forestry school
1863-1864: mathematical school; technical schools: Engineering school, building school, chemical school, mechanical engineering school, commercial school, post office school, forestry school
1864-1866: mathematical school, engineering school, building school, chemical school (1865 named: chemical and chemical-technical school), mechanical engineering school (1865 named: mechanical and mechanical-technical school), commercial school, post office school, forestry school, agricultural school
1866-1872: mathematical school, engineering school, building school, chemical school, mechanical engineering school, forestry school, agricultural school
1872-1880: mathematical school, engineering school, building school, mechanical engineering school, chemical school, forestry school
1880-1888: Mathematical and scientific school, engineering school, building school, mechanical engineering school, chemical school, forestry school
1888-1895: Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Department of Engineering, Department of Architecture, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Department of Forestry
1895-1910 (?): General Department (for mathematics and general subjects), Engineering Department, Architecture Department, Chemistry Department, Mechanical Engineering Department, Electrical Engineering Department, Forestry Department
1911-1921 (?, certainly: until 1920): General Department of Mathematics and General Education, Department of Engineering including Surveying, Department of Architecture, Department of Chemistry including Pharmacy, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering, Department of Forestry
1921 (?, about 1920?)-1924 (? change before?): General Department of Mathematics and General Education, Department of Civil Engineering including Surveying, Department of Architecture, Department of Chemistry including Pharmacy, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering
1924-1933: General Department of Mathematics and General Education, Department of Civil Engineering including Surveying, Department of Architecture, Department of Chemistry, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering
1933-1934: General Department (1st section for mathematical subjects, 2nd section for general education subjects), Department of Civil Engineering including Surveying, Department of Architecture, Department of Chemistry, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering
1934-1937: General Section (1st Section for Mathematics and Natural Sciences, 2nd Section for General Humanities), Department of Civil Engineering including Surveying, Department of Architecture, Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Department of Chemistry
1937-1940: Faculty of General Sciences, Faculty of Civil Engineering including Surveying, Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Chemistry
1941-1945: Faculty of Natural Sciences and Complementary Subjects (1st Department of Mathematics and Physics, 2nd Department of Chemistry, 3rd Department of Non-Scientific Complementary Subjects), Faculty of Civil Engineering (1st Department of Architecture, 2nd Department of Civil Engineering), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (1st Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2nd Department of Electrical Engineering)
1946-1947: Faculty of Science and Humanities (1st Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, 2nd Department of Humanities), Faculty of Chemistry, Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (1st Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2nd Department of Electrical Engineering)
1947-1948: Faculty of Science and Humanities (1st Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, 2nd Department of Humanities), Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (1st Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2nd Department of Electrical Engineering)
1948: Faculty of Science and Humanities (1st Department of Mathematics and Physics, 2nd Department of Chemistry, 3rd Department of Humanities), Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (1st Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2nd Department of Electrical Engineering)
1948-1966: Faculty of Science and Humanities (1st Department of Mathematics and Physics, 2nd Department of Chemistry, 3rd Department of Humanities), Faculty of Civil Engineering (4th Department of Architecture, 5th Department of Civil Engineering), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (6th Department of Mechanical Engineering, 7th Department of Electrical Engineering). Only from the winter semester 1949/50 onwards do the departments appear in the course and staff register with a cross-departmental census.
1966-1969: Faculty of Natural Sciences I (Mathematics and Physics), Faculty of Natural Sciences II (Chemistry, Bio- and Earth Sciences), Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Surveying, Faculty of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering
1969-1972: Faculty of Mathematics, Faculty of Physics, Faculty of Chemistry, Faculty of Bio- and Geosciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Surveying, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering
1972-1999: Faculty of Mathematics, Faculty of Physics, Faculty of Chemistry, Faculty of Bio- and Geosciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Surveying, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Computer Science, Faculty of Economics
1999-2002: Faculty of Mathematics, Faculty of Physics, Faculty of Chemistry, Faculty of Bio- and Geosciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Surveying, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Process Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Faculty of Computer Science, Faculty of Economics
since 2002: Faculty of Mathematics, Faculty of Physics, Faculty of Chemistry and Biosciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Geo- Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Faculty of Computer Science, Faculty of Economics
Terms of office of the University's Directors, Rectors and Central Administration Heads
Directors (chair titles in brackets)
1825-1832: Dr. Gustav Friedrich Wucherer (physics)
1833-1836: Dr.phil. Friedrich August Walchner (Geology and Mineralogy)
1837-1840: Dr.phil. Wilhelm Ludwig Volz (mechanical engineering)
1840-1845: Dr.med. Karl Bader (hydraulic engineering and road construction)
1845-1848: Carl Heinrich Albert Kayser (mechanics)
1848-1857: Dr.phil. Johann Ludwig Klauprecht (forestry science)
1857-1863: Ferdinand Redtenbacher (mechanical engineering)
1863-1864: Dr.phil. Moritz Seubert (Zoology and Botany)
1864-1866: Jakob Hochstetter (architecture)
1866-1867: Hermann Sternberg (engineering science)
1867-1869: Dr.phil.h.c. Franz Grashof (Applied Mechanics and Machine Theory)
1869-1870: Dr.phil. Christian Wiener (descriptive geometry)
1870-1871: Heinrich Lang (architecture)
1871-1872: Dr.phil. Wilhelm Schell (Theoretical Mechanics)
1872-1873: Dr.phil.h.c. Franz Grashof (Applied Mechanics and Machine Theory)
1873-1874: Reinhard Baumeister (engineering science)
1874-1875: Dr.phil. Adolph Knop (Mineralogy)
1875-1876: Hermann Sternberg (engineering science)
1876-1877: Dr.phil. Jakob Lüroth (Higher Analysis)
1877-1878: Dr. Carl Birnbaum (chemistry)
1878-1879: Ph.D. Leonhard Sohncke (physics)
1879-1880: Heinrich Lang (architecture)
1880-1881: Josef Hart (mechanical engineering)
1881-1882: Dr.phil. Christian Wiener (descriptive geometry)
1882-1883: Dr.phil.h.c. Franz Grashof (Applied Mechanics and Machine Theory)
1883-1884: Ph.D. Carl Engler (General Chemistry)
1884-1885: Reinhard Baumeister (engineering science)
1885-1886: Dr.phil.h.c. Franz Grashof (applied mechanics and machine theory)
1886-1887: Dr.phil. Leopold Just (Botany)
1887-1888: Josef Hart (mechanical engineering)
1888-1889: Karl Schuberg (forestry science)
1889-1890: Dr.phil. Matthäus Haid (Geometry and Geodesy)
1890-1891: Dr.phil. Ernst Schröder (mathematics)
1891-1892: Dr.phil. Christian Wiener (descriptive geometry)
1892-1893: Ph.D. Karl Keller (mechanical engineering)
1892-1894: Karl Schuberg (forestry science)
1894-1895: Dr. Matthäus Haid (geometry and geodesy)
Rectors (chair titles in brackets)
1896-1897: Dr.phil Hans Bunte (chemical technology)
1897-1898: Josef Hart (mechanical engineering)
1898-1899: Ph.D. Karl Engler (General Chemistry)
1899-1900: Ernst Brauer (theoretical machine theory)
1901-1902: Dr.phil. Otto Lehmann (physics)
1901-1902: Dr.phil. Matthäus Haid (Practical Geometry and Higher Geodesy)
1902-1903: Ph.D. Adolf von Oechelhäuser (History of Art)
1903-1904: Ph.D. Ludwig Klein (Botany)
1904-1905: Ph.D. Friedrich Schur (Geometry)
1905-1906: Xaver Siefert (forestry science)
1906-1907: Dr.-Ing. Engelbert Arnold (electrical engineering)
1907-1908: Theodor roebuck (hydraulic engineering)
1908-1909: Dr.phil. Adolf Krazer (Mathematics)
1909-1910: Dr.phil. Adolf von Oechelhäuser (History of Art)
1910-1911: Dr.phil. Paul Stäckel (mathematics)
1911-1912: Georg Benoit (conveyor technology)
1912-1913: Dr.iur.utr. Otto Zwiedineck Edler von Südenhorst (Economics)
1913-1914: Dr.phil. Ludwig Klein (Botany)
1914-1915: Dr.phil. Adolf Krazer (mathematics)
1915-1916: Dr.phil. Udo Müller (forestry)
1916-1917: Theodor roebuck (hydraulic engineering)
1917-1918: Ph.D. Hans Hausrath (forestry)
1918-1919: Richard Grassmann (mechanical engineering)
1919-1920: Dr.phil. Wilhelm Paulcke (Geology and Mineralogy)
1920-1921: Dr.-Ing. Otto Ammann (road and railway construction)
1921-1922: Georg Benoit (conveyor technology)
1922-1923: Dr.phil. Georg Bredig (physical chemistry)
1923-1924: Dr.phil. Richard Baldus (Geometry)
1924-1925: Karl Caesar (architecture)
1925-1926: Dr.-Ing.E.h. Theodor Rehbock (hydraulic engineering)
1926-1927: Dr.-Ing. Emil Probst (concrete and reinforced concrete construction)
1927-1928: Hans Kluge (machine elements, automotive engineering)
1928-1929: Dr.-Ing. Karl Wulzinger (history of architecture and art)
1929-1930: Dr.phil. Alfred Stock (chemistry)
1930-1931: Dr.-Ing. Rudolf Plank (Theoretical Machine Theory)
1931-1933: Dr.phil. Karl Holl (History of German Literature)
1933-1935: Hans Kluge (Machine elements, Automotive engineering)
1935-1937: Dr.-Ing. Heinrich Wittmann (hydraulic engineering)
1937-1945: Dr.-Ing. Rudolf Weigel (lighting technology)
1945: Dr.phil. Karl Georg Schmidt (Geology) [office not held]
1945-1946: Dr.-Ing. Rudolf Plank (Theoretical Machine Theory)
1946-1947: Dr.-Ing. Theodor Pöschl (Mechanics and Applied Mathematics)
1947-1948: Dr.-Ing. Hans Jungbluth (mechanical technology and materials testing)
1948-1949: Dr.phil. Paul Günther (physical chemistry)
1949-1950: Dr.-Ing. Ernst Terres (gas technology and fuel utilisation)
1950-1952: Dr.phil. Hermann Backhaus (Theoretical Electrical Engineering and Low Current Technology)
1952-1954: Otto Haupt (architecture)
1954-1956: Dr.phil. Rudolf Scholder (chemistry)
1956: Dr.-Ing. Guntram Lesch (electrical engineering)
1956-1958: Dr.-Ing. Kurt Nesselmann (Technical Thermodynamics)
1958-1961: Dr.-Ing. Hans Leussink (soil and rock mechanics)
1961-1963: Dr.rer.nat. Johannes Weissinger (Applied Mathematics)
1963-1965: Dr.phil. Paul Schulz (lighting technology)
1965-1966: Dr.phil. Klaus Lankheit (History of Art)
1966-1968: Dr.-Ing. Hans Rumpf (mechanical process engineering)
1968-1983: Dr.-Ing. Heinz Draheim (Geodesy)
1983-1994: Dr.rer.nat. Heinz Kunle (Geometry)
1994-2002: Dr.-Ing. Sigmar Wittig (Thermal flow machines)
2002: Dr.rer.nat. Manfred Schneider (Mathematics) [office held by managing director].
since 2002: Dr.sc.tech. Horst Hippler (physical chemistry)
Head of administration
1841-1857: Secretary Andreas Forstmeyer
1857-1886: Secretary Johann Baptist Meisinger
1886-1905: Senior Auditor Karl Beutel
1905-1915: Senior Auditor Alexander Zeis
1915-1924: senior accountant Friedrich Schneider
1924-1955: Administrative Director (so from 1938) Franz Debold (interruptions 1946-1948)
1956-1970: Administrative Director Walter Wagner
1971-1978: Chancellor Dr.iur. Werner Hartenberg
1978-2000: Chancellor Dr.iur.utr. Gerhard Selmayr
2000-2008: Chancellor Dr.iur. Dietmar Ertmann