Gertrud Woker

Gertrud Johanna Woker (16 December 1878 – 13 September 1968) was a Swiss suffragette, biochemist and toxicologist, and peace activist. She wrote for over twenty years itemizing the dangers of chemical substances on the human body. She campaigned against the use of poison gas in warfare.

Early life

Woker was born on 16 December 1878 to "Old Catholic" theology and history professor Philipp Woker. She came from a well-educated family as besides her father being a professor, her maternal grandfather taught history. Woker was keen to continue her studies but her father sent her to Erfurt to learn to cook. Undeterred, Woker studied mathematics secretly at night with the brother of a fellow student. Leading a double life proved to be an exhausting and Woker fell ill with chlorosis, a form of anaemia. Upon her return to Bern, Woker was unable to find a position in her field and became a high school gymnastics teacher. This was short-lived, however, as she then chose to study at Berlin University as a guest, since women were forbidden to be students.

Between 1910 and 1931, Woker wrote four volumes of books regarding the dangers of chemical substances on the human body. However, her main focus of interest was poisonous gas in war. In 1916, Woker was denied the title of professorship again, this time by a tied vote. In November 1924, the Fourth International Congress of the WILPF convened in Washington, D.C. At the meeting, Ester Akesson-Beskow, Sahlbom, and Woker announced the formation of the Committee Against Scientific Warfare, of which Sahlbom was the chairwoman. In 1925, Woker published "The coming war of Poison Gas" and sent appeals to Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.

In 1933, she was granted the title of professorship.

Die Chemie der natürlichen Alkaloide: mit besonderer Berücksichtigung ihrer Biogenese Die Katalyse. Die Rolle der Katalyse in der analytischen Chemie Der kommende Giftgaskrieg Der kommende Gift- und Brandkrieg und seine Auswirkungen gegenüber der Zivilbevölkerung Erwerbsarbeit der Frau und Rassenentwicklung