Mirroring the development in the social sciences as a whole, social gerontology has been characterised by an increasing internationalisation in recent years. While the English language remains the prime medium for communication, there is a rapidly expanding research literature published in other major world languages. This raises practical difficulties for researchers lacking the relevant linguistic skills to engage with the findings of research published in languages other than English. It is within this context that this Ageing Update addresses the current state of social gerontology in Germany. Drawing primarily upon sources published in the German language between 1997 and 2000, the article provides an overview of the historical development of research on social and behavioural aspects of ageing in Germany. It then proceeds to address some of the main themes and trends associated with what, by any measure, is a substantial amount of recent research. This analysis offers a basis for illustrating, in a short concluding section, the significant strengths and some areas of apparent weaknesses in the current state of German social gerontology.