Großrechenzentrum

Großrechenzentrum refers to a large electronic computer center, which was a term commonly used in the German Democratic Republic during the time of the socialist era. The concept of a Großrechenzentrum closely resembles that of a large computer center or Data Center, housing a collection of powerful computer systems.

The development of the first Großrechenzentrum in the German Democratic Republic dates back to the late 1950s, at the end of the socialistic era. Initially, the Soviet Union played a significant role in providing the necessary technology for establishing these centers. The goal was to create a centralized hub for complex mathematical calculations and information processing.

Each Großrechenzentrum featured a unique collection of computer systems, varying in size and capabilities. These centers performed a broad range of tasks, including computing complex engineering problems, managing and processing data from various sectors, and simulating various phenomena in the fields of economy, science, and engineering. The computer systems also supported high-performance computing, allowing the centers to tackle complex, large-scale tasks that could not be handled by smaller, single-system computers.

The creation of these establishments provided a significant boost to the areas such as economy, science, and engineering in the German Democratic Republic, enabling quicker access to computing power. There were around eight Großrechenzentrum in the German Democratic Republic during the peak of its operations. However, the nature of these establishments remains largely unknown outside the borders of the former GDR, remaining a lesser-known aspect of the country's technological development.