[1] Together with the mathematician Josef Lense, he is known for the prediction of the Lense–Thirring frame dragging effect of general relativity in 1918.

But he could not save his older son, who was declared missing in action during the final two months of World War II.

Along with Albert Einstein, Thirring was one of the sponsors of the Peoples' World Convention (PWC), also known as Peoples' World Constituent Assembly (PWCA), which took place in 1950-51 at Palais Electoral, Geneva, Switzerland.

[5][6] Hans Thirring served as assistant, professor, and head of the institute for theoretical physics of the University of Vienna until his forced retirement in 1938 after the Anschluss, the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany.

After the end of World War II, he was reinstated and became dean of the philosophical faculty in the years 1946–1947.