The VWA and the making of a female trade union from 1903 to 1933 in Germany

This article explores the activities and development of the VWA, the earliest all-female professional organisation representing German female salaried employees in the early twentieth century. It explores the organisation’s efforts to define and defend the professional and social interests of female employees at a time when women’s participation in clerical and commercial work was rapidly expanding. Particular attention is paid to the organisation’s complex position between feminist movements and Christian-national trade union networks. By analysing its programmes, publications, and organisational strategies, the article highlights the tensions between gender solidarity, professional identity, and broader political alignments.