  A succinct chronology is given around Nov 1915, when the explicit field
equations of General Relativity have been found. Evidence, unearthed by
D.Wuensch, that a decisive document of Hilbert has been mutilated in recent
years with the intention to distort the historical truth is reviewed and
discussed. The procedure how Hilbert has found before Einstein the correct
equations "easily without calculation" by invariant-theoretical arguments is
identified for the first time. However, Hilbert has based his derivation on an
incorrect or at least not yet formally proved invariant theoretical fact.
