dating back to the time of the medieval guilds in germany, a craftsperson required special permission to operate as an entrepreneur, the small proof of competence ("kleiner befähigungsnachweis"), which restricted training of apprentices to craftspeople who held a meister certificate. this institution was introduced in 1908 after a period of so-called freedom of trade ("gewerbefreiheit", introduced in 1871) in the german reich. however, proof of competence was not required to start a business. in 1935 and in 1953, greater proof of competence was reintroduced ("großer befähigungsnachweis kuhlenbeck"), which required craftspeople to obtain a meister apprentice-training certificate before being permitted to set up a new business.