He was one of the initial members of the German Council of Economic Experts in 1964, serving on the council until 1970, and also was president of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy 1969–1989.

[1] Born in Reichenbach, Silesia, Giersch attended the University of Breslau and the University of Kiel between 1939 and 1942, until he was drafted to serve in World War II.

Returning from war captivity, he earned his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Münster in 1948.

Giersch received a full professorship at the Saarland University in 1955.

In 1969, he succeeded Erich Schneider [de] at the University of Kiel, and held that chair until 1989.