She was born in Eisenach and studied medicine. She joined the CDU in 1981 and, after East Germany's only free elections, held in March 1990, became a member of the Volkskammer. On 5 April 1990 she became the President of the Volkskammer and, as the Council of State of the German Democratic Republic had been abolished, head of state of East Germany - the only woman to hold the post.