He was particularly notable for research in coal and steel sciences in postwar Germany.
After graduating from high school in 1947, he studied history, literature, philosophy and political economy at the University of Leipzig.
He received his doctorate in 1957 on the subject of the history of the condition miners in the coal district of Saxony-Lugau Ölsnitz from 1889 to 1914.
He completed his habilitation in 1968 at the University of Rostock, with work on historical traditions in the German mining industry from 1807 to 1871.
He wrote, often jointly with Otfried Wagenbreth, a wide range of books on the history of technology, such as mining and metallurgy in the city of Freiberg.