Abstract
The German Society of Geriatrics (DGG) celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2025. It was founded in 1985 to position geriatrics in science and policy, to disseminate knowledge, to establish a geriatric specialist status and to establish an independent field of geriatric medicine in diagnostics, treatment and rehabilitation. How did it achieve these goals? For this three methods were used: (1) semi-structured and open interviews (n = 28), (2) a very comprehensive source study with identification of 4 milestones based on historical ethnography, and (3) a content analysis of all protocols of general meetings (n = 36) over 40 years. The DGG has achieved nearly all of its goals, and more. It has independently developed evidence in the areas of nutrition, geriatric traumatology and assessment. Through its excellent international network, scientific excellence can be found within the DGG; however, the goal of establishing a geriatric specialist has not been achieved. Only a specialist area such as geriatrics within the DGG can meet the complex needs of older people.