In the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) the first restoration workshops were established shortly after World War II for the repair of war damage. However, the consequences of progressive deterioration, both endogenous in origin and caused by increasing use, are just beginning to be realized. The program of support from the Volkswagen Foundation, begun in 1977, has been an important stimulus and has sponsored 16 workshops. Another stimulus is the present microfilming of archival material. In some parts of the FRG, research projects have been started: mass conservation in Frankfurt and the conservation of illuminated manuscripts in Göttingen. One problem still to be solved is the status of the restoration profession. In some places education programs are being created. The survey of these activities in the individual states shows that southern Germany has a definite lead in this field.