\(p\)-groups without noncharacteristic normal subgroups. (Q731375)

The following old problem is known: Classify the finite \(p\)-groups all of whose normal subgroups are characteristic. One of such groups are semi-dihedral \(2\)-groups. Only few series of such groups are known (H. Heineken, L. Verardi). In this paper the following important result is proved: Given a prime \(p\) and a finite \(p\)-group \(P\), there exists a finite \(p\)-group \(G\) containing \(P\) in which every normal subgroup is characteristic. It follows that the above stated problem is unsolvable. It must be replaced by the following problem: Study the finite \(p\)-groups all of whose normal subgroups are characteristic. In connection with this paper we state the following interesting result of this author [\textit{B. Wilkens}, Isr. J. Math. 166, 97-112 (2008; Zbl 1158.20008)]: There exists a finite \(p\)-group \(P\) that is not characteristic in every finite \(p\)-group \(G\) properly containing \(P\).