[Ernst Gräfenberg, the life and medical accomplishments of the gynaecologist from Kiel. In honor of his 100th birthday on September 26, 1981 (author's transl)].

In honor of the 100th birthday of E. Gräfenberg born on September 26, 1981 his biography is reported. This ingenious researcher suffered heavy blows by fate. During his residency in gynaecology in Kiel, Gräfenberg published important scientific papers (for instance on Gräfenbergstheory of malignant spread) and he studied the physiology of implantation with special reference of the tryptic enzymes of the membranes. As a specialist in gynaecology Gräfenberg developed a method to prevent implantation of the egg based on his studies of implantation. His intra-uterine ring was named Gräfenberg ring. It took until two years after the death of Gräfenberg until the modification of his method of family planning was accepted throughout the world in 1959.