The prize was established in 1945 as a memorial to
Fernand Holweck and other French physicists who were persecuted or killed by the Nazis during the
German occupation of France during World War II, from 1940 to 1945. It is awarded for distinguished work in experimental physics (which reflects Holweck's scientific interest) or in theoretical physics which is closely related to experimentation. The Holweck Prize is awarded every year, alternately to a French physicist and a British or Irish physicist. In 1974 two awards were made to mark the centenaries of the two societies. Holweck Laureates include several
Nobel Prize winners. The award received increased media attention in 2014 when it was awarded to Iranian physicist
Ramin Golestanian. == Recipients ==