AN INTRODUCTORY HISTORICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL DISCUSSION INDICATES THAT MISTREATMENT OF CHILDREN HAS LONG BEEN PRACTICED; THE EXTENT OF ABUSE IN WEST GERMANY CANNOT EVEN BE MEASURED ACCURATELY BECAUSE OF THE STATISTICS; CRISIS SITUATIONS COUPLED WITH PARENT PERSONALITIES FORMED BY EARLY ABUSE CONTRIBUTE TO INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS; AND PROTECTION CAN BE PROVIDED BY EMPIRICAL STUDIES, AN INFORMATION SYSTEM, CHILDREN'S PROTECTION CENTERS, AND EXPANSION OF SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES. CHILD ABUSE WITHIN THE FAMILY, ILLUSTRATED BY THE FIRST-HAND REPORT OF AN ABUSIVE MOTHER AND OTHER STUDIES, IS ATTRIBUTED AT LEAST IN PART TO AUTHORITARIAN PARENTS. EXAMPLES OF EXCESSIVE PUNISHMENT IN SCHOOL ARE DESCRIBED IN NEWSPAPER ARTICLES AND STUDENTS' OWN REPORTS, AND REPRESSIVE ASPECTS OF SCHOOL RULES ARE OUTLINED. SCIENTIFIC CONTROVERSIES RELATE TO CHILD ABUSE AS A FORM OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND SOCIAL MEDICAL ASPECTS OF PHYSICAL CHILD ABUSE. REQUIREMENTS FOR PROTECTION OF CHILDREN THROUGH FURTHER EDUCATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS, EDUCATORS, DOCTORS, NURSES, AND LAWYERS ARE INVESTIGATED. MATERIALS PROVIDED ON THE PROBLEM INCLUDE EXAMPLES OF PRESS COVERAGE IN CHILD ABUSE CASES, POLICE CRIMINAL STATISTICS FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES, A LIST OF LEGAL PROVISIONS AND PROPOSED NEW LAWS REGARDING CHILD ABUSE, RESULTS OF A POLL ON THE CHILD ABUSE SITUATION, THE PLAN OF A COURSE ON CHILD ABUSE FOR BEGINNING SOCIOLOGY STUDENTS, AN EXTENSIVE INTERNATIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY ON CHILD ABUSE, AND A LIST OF RADIO AND TELEVISION PROGRAMS ON THE SUBJECT. SEPARATE BIBLIOGRAPHIES AND REFERENCES, AS WELL AS EXTENSIVE TABLES ARE FURNISHED FOR EACH STUDY. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)