[en] The gross properties of nuclear matter at high densities and temperatures and the significance of the nuclear equation of state for high energy nuclear collisions are investigated within the nuclear fluid dynamical model. The hydrdynamical description and the properties of the nuclear fluid are extensively discussed. It is shown that at bombarding energies of 1-4 GeV/n compressions of 3-6 psub(o) and temperatures T approx. 100 MeV can be reached. At medium energies we compare the nuclear fluid dynamical model and the time-dependent Hartree-Fock model. The importance of isobaric resonance - and pion production at higher energies is discussed, which for an exponentially increasing hadronic mass spectrum leads to a limiting temperature Tsup(Max). (orig.)