ABSTRACT
The f d g b, one woman, Professor Dr Johanna Topfer, had reached the rank of deputy chairman by 1977, in the ranks of the trade union federation. Frau Muller was one of the powerful secretaries. This means that two women were members of the presidium of the f d g b, the governing body of the East German trade unions. Even in the early 1960s over 70 per cent of women went to work outside the home. Holidays by East Germans in the 'socialist community of states' are by no means an unqualified success. Judging from the efforts put into advocating shiftwork one must conclude that the s e d regards it as a key weapon in its economic strategy. Since the 1950s the g d r has not published detailed figures on suicide so it is impossible to be sure of the age, sex, marital status, occupations and geographical distribution of those involved.
