On this day in space! Aug. 21, 1914: Total solar eclipse expedition crashed by WWI
This article recounts the 1914 solar eclipse expedition led by Erwin Finlay-Freundlich, which was disrupted by the outbreak of World War I. It explains how this historical event delayed the empirical validation of Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity.
Why it matters
It illustrates the intersection of scientific progress and geopolitical instability, providing historical context for modern physics.
Eclipses Solar Eclipses On this day in space! Aug. 21, 1914: Total solar eclipse expedition crashed by WWI News By Hanneke Weitering Contributions by Chelsea Gohd Published 21 August 2026 On Aug. 21, 1914, a total solar eclipse temporarily darkened skies across Europe and Asia.
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Click for next article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter On Aug. 21, 1914, a total solar eclipse temporarily darkened skies across Europe and Asia. A young German astronomer and friend of Albert Einstein's, Erwin Finlay-Freundlich, led an expedition to the Crimean Peninsula of Russia, where he hoped to record observations that would verify Albert Einstein's general relativity theory.
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