The union was founded in August 1883 at a meeting in Gotha, as the Support Association of German Shoemakers.

Due to the Anti-Socialist Laws, it could not describe itself as a trade union, but it operated unemployment and relocation funds for workers.

It established headquarters in Offenbach am Main, and in 1887 renamed itself as the Union of German Shoemakers.

[3] In 1900, Josef Simon became the leader of the union, and led it through a difficult five years of strikes, lock outs, and economic struggles.

[2] It was the main founder of the International Federation of Boot and Shoe Operatives in 1907, and a founding affiliate of the General German Trade Union Confederation in 1919.