History

The Deutscher Frauenrat has two historical roots. On the one hand, it views itself in the tradition of the Bund Deutscher Frauenvereine (BDF), or "Union of German Women's Associations" founded in 1894, which brought together a large number of organizations of the bourgeois women's movements of that time. The BDF dissolved in 1933 to avoid appropriation by the Nazis.

Civil education for women

A new beginning was made in 1951. Fourteen women's associations joined together to form the Informationsdienst für Frauenfragen ("Women's Information Service") for the purpose of exchanging information on upcoming federal legislation and other important events relating to women's interests. The new association was supported both conceptually and materially by the women's division of the US American military government, which considered civil education for women as an important element of its program to democratise the young Federal Republic of Germany.

First activities

The initial purpose of the association was to publish a monthly newsletter entitled Informationen für die Frau. Seven years later, the organisation expanded to become known as the Informationsdienst und Aktionskreis deutscher Frauenverbände und Frauengruppen gemischter Verbände e.V. ("Information Service and Action Committee of German Women's Associations and Women's Groups in Mixed Organisations").

Focus on women's political interests

It changed its name to the Deutscher Frauenrat in 1969, and has since mainly concerned itself with representing women's political interests. In 1984, its members confirmed this development by adding Lobby der Frauen to the official name.

The Deutscher Frauenrat has since come to occupy a firm position in the pre-parliamentary realm of German politics. The original newsletter Informationen für die Frau has been replaced by a magazine entitled FrauenRat, now published 6 times a year on changing topics.