Gsdfinder

KEEP TRACK OF "HOW FAST THE FOOD GOES THROUGH THE DOG"
It only takes German Shepherd puppies about 0.5hrs or sometimes even less until the food gets back out! Make sure you watch when you feed them and take the dog out after wards!
Do not expect a puppy to be able to hold in pee etc. for a long time. I took my puppies as often as every hour outside in the yard.
Of course, when they grow, they can deal with it better.
Also, feed them on a schedule so their bodies can get used to it.

USE A CRATE
When I am gone I put my dogs in a (large) care.
It is extremely important that the care is not too small for the dog! The German Shepherd should be able to easy move in the crate.
The pup will not do its business in the crate (unless they suffer for example diarrhea), simply because they do not want to walk around in their own feces.
They will try to hold it in as long as they can.
It is important to only put the dog in a crate when you are gone.
Do not use this as a toilet training method when you are at home.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING: Never get discouraged!
Yes, it can take some time, but even if you think you German Shepherd never will never be house broken, trust me, if you follow these tips, you puppy will be just fine after a while!

Especially German Shepherds are very smart dogs, even if you adopt an adult dog that is may not house trained yet, they are always able to learn!