Statutes of the Association of Former Prisoners of War in the USA from German POW Walter Schmitt Grouping
Dublin Core
Title
Statutes of the Association of Former Prisoners of War in the USA from German POW Walter Schmitt Grouping
Subject
This appears to by a set of organizational rules or bylaws for a former POW advocacy organization. Walter Schmitt possibly joined this organization post war in an attempt to advocate for wages due from his work in the United States during the war.
Description
English Translation:
Statutes of the Association of Former Prisoners of War in the USA
STATUTES
of the Association of Former Prisoners of War in the USA,
Registered Office: Cologne
§ 1. Name and Registered Office
The association bears the name “Association of Former Prisoners of War in the USA.” The registered office of the association is in Cologne.
§ 2. Purpose of the Association
The purpose of the association is to represent all interests of the former prisoners of war in the USA, in particular to assert the legal claims of the former German prisoners of war in the USA for payment of their outstanding wages for work performed in the USA.
§ 3. Membership
Membership may be held by individuals and legal entities who either are themselves former prisoners of war in the USA or who, for other reasons, wish to promote the purpose of the association.
Membership is acquired by submitting a written declaration of membership.
Membership is lost through:
Death;
Resignation by the member, which must be declared in writing to the Executive Board;
Expulsion.
§ 4. Members’ Rights
Membership entitles the member to participate in the General Membership Meeting and to exercise the rights accruing to members.
§ 5. Expulsion of a Member
A member may be expelled by resolution of the Executive Board if the member damages the reputation or interests of the association, fails to fulfill their obligation to pay membership dues, or for another important reason.
§ 6. Membership Dues
The association obtains the funds necessary to cover the expenses incurred in pursuing the purposes specified in § 2 through contributions toward expenses from its members.
These contributions shall be determined by the Executive Board on a case-by-case basis, within the scope of the necessary expenditures.
§ 7. Organs of the Association
The organs of the association are:
the Executive Board; and
the General Membership Meeting.
§ 8. Executive Board
The Executive Board consists of:
the Chairman;
the Deputy Chairman;
two assessors;
the Treasurer.
The members of the Executive Board must be members of the association.
Resolutions of the Executive Board are adopted by a majority of votes; in the event of a tie, the Chairman’s vote shall decide.
The Chairman, or in the event of his absence the Deputy Chairman, represents the association both in and out of court.
The Executive Board conducts the ongoing business of the association. It is responsible for the administration and use of the association’s funds.
The Executive Board is authorized, for the management of the general business affairs, to appoint a full-time managing director.
The remuneration of the members of the Executive Board shall be determined by the Executive Board as a whole.
Expenses incurred shall be reimbursed. The keeping of the books and the receipt and disbursement of funds are the responsibility of the Treasurer.
Payment orders require the signature of the Treasurer as well as that of another member of the Executive Board.
§ 9. General Membership Meeting
The ordinary General Membership Meeting shall be convened annually during the first quarter of the year by the Executive Board.
Members shall be invited in writing, or in another appropriate manner, at least three weeks before the date of the meeting, with notification of the agenda.
The annual General Membership Meeting has the following responsibilities:
the election of the Executive Board;
receiving the Executive Board’s report and granting it discharge;
approving the budget and determining the membership dues;
adopting resolutions concerning amendments to the statutes and all other matters submitted to it by the Executive Board, as well as matters assigned to it under these statutes.
The Executive Board may convene an extraordinary General Membership Meeting.
It is required to do so if one-tenth of the members requests this in writing, stating the purpose and reasons.
In this case, the members must be invited, with notification of the agenda, at least one week before the date of the extraordinary General Membership Meeting.
§ 10.
The General Membership Meeting shall be chaired by the Chairman of the association, or, in his absence, by the Deputy Chairman, and, if both are prevented from attending, by a representative appointed by one of the Chairmen.
Each member has one vote at the meeting. Representation by another member is not permitted.
The General Membership Meeting shall deliberate only on the matters announced in the agenda. The General Membership Meeting may add further items to the agenda.
All resolutions of the General Membership Meeting shall be adopted by a simple majority of votes, insofar as permitted by law and these statutes.
In the event of a tie in the election of the Executive Board, the decision shall be made by drawing lots.
Minutes shall be taken of the resolutions of the Executive Board and the General Membership Meeting. The minutes must be signed by the Chairman and the Secretary.
§ 11. Amendment of the Statutes
A resolution containing an amendment to the statutes requires a majority of three-quarters of the members present.
§ 12. Dissolution
The association shall cease to exist upon completion of the tasks specified in § 2.
In the event of dissolution of the association, the association’s assets shall be transferred in equal parts to the German Red Cross and the German War Graves Commission.
For the purpose of winding up the association’s affairs, the Executive Board shall appoint two liquidators.
§ 13.
The association’s financial year is the calendar year.
§ 14.
These statutes were adopted at the founding meeting on 28 October 1950 and entered into force on 30 October 1950.
Statutes of the Association of Former Prisoners of War in the USA
STATUTES
of the Association of Former Prisoners of War in the USA,
Registered Office: Cologne
§ 1. Name and Registered Office
The association bears the name “Association of Former Prisoners of War in the USA.” The registered office of the association is in Cologne.
§ 2. Purpose of the Association
The purpose of the association is to represent all interests of the former prisoners of war in the USA, in particular to assert the legal claims of the former German prisoners of war in the USA for payment of their outstanding wages for work performed in the USA.
§ 3. Membership
Membership may be held by individuals and legal entities who either are themselves former prisoners of war in the USA or who, for other reasons, wish to promote the purpose of the association.
Membership is acquired by submitting a written declaration of membership.
Membership is lost through:
Death;
Resignation by the member, which must be declared in writing to the Executive Board;
Expulsion.
§ 4. Members’ Rights
Membership entitles the member to participate in the General Membership Meeting and to exercise the rights accruing to members.
§ 5. Expulsion of a Member
A member may be expelled by resolution of the Executive Board if the member damages the reputation or interests of the association, fails to fulfill their obligation to pay membership dues, or for another important reason.
§ 6. Membership Dues
The association obtains the funds necessary to cover the expenses incurred in pursuing the purposes specified in § 2 through contributions toward expenses from its members.
These contributions shall be determined by the Executive Board on a case-by-case basis, within the scope of the necessary expenditures.
§ 7. Organs of the Association
The organs of the association are:
the Executive Board; and
the General Membership Meeting.
§ 8. Executive Board
The Executive Board consists of:
the Chairman;
the Deputy Chairman;
two assessors;
the Treasurer.
The members of the Executive Board must be members of the association.
Resolutions of the Executive Board are adopted by a majority of votes; in the event of a tie, the Chairman’s vote shall decide.
The Chairman, or in the event of his absence the Deputy Chairman, represents the association both in and out of court.
The Executive Board conducts the ongoing business of the association. It is responsible for the administration and use of the association’s funds.
The Executive Board is authorized, for the management of the general business affairs, to appoint a full-time managing director.
The remuneration of the members of the Executive Board shall be determined by the Executive Board as a whole.
Expenses incurred shall be reimbursed. The keeping of the books and the receipt and disbursement of funds are the responsibility of the Treasurer.
Payment orders require the signature of the Treasurer as well as that of another member of the Executive Board.
§ 9. General Membership Meeting
The ordinary General Membership Meeting shall be convened annually during the first quarter of the year by the Executive Board.
Members shall be invited in writing, or in another appropriate manner, at least three weeks before the date of the meeting, with notification of the agenda.
The annual General Membership Meeting has the following responsibilities:
the election of the Executive Board;
receiving the Executive Board’s report and granting it discharge;
approving the budget and determining the membership dues;
adopting resolutions concerning amendments to the statutes and all other matters submitted to it by the Executive Board, as well as matters assigned to it under these statutes.
The Executive Board may convene an extraordinary General Membership Meeting.
It is required to do so if one-tenth of the members requests this in writing, stating the purpose and reasons.
In this case, the members must be invited, with notification of the agenda, at least one week before the date of the extraordinary General Membership Meeting.
§ 10.
The General Membership Meeting shall be chaired by the Chairman of the association, or, in his absence, by the Deputy Chairman, and, if both are prevented from attending, by a representative appointed by one of the Chairmen.
Each member has one vote at the meeting. Representation by another member is not permitted.
The General Membership Meeting shall deliberate only on the matters announced in the agenda. The General Membership Meeting may add further items to the agenda.
All resolutions of the General Membership Meeting shall be adopted by a simple majority of votes, insofar as permitted by law and these statutes.
In the event of a tie in the election of the Executive Board, the decision shall be made by drawing lots.
Minutes shall be taken of the resolutions of the Executive Board and the General Membership Meeting. The minutes must be signed by the Chairman and the Secretary.
§ 11. Amendment of the Statutes
A resolution containing an amendment to the statutes requires a majority of three-quarters of the members present.
§ 12. Dissolution
The association shall cease to exist upon completion of the tasks specified in § 2.
In the event of dissolution of the association, the association’s assets shall be transferred in equal parts to the German Red Cross and the German War Graves Commission.
For the purpose of winding up the association’s affairs, the Executive Board shall appoint two liquidators.
§ 13.
The association’s financial year is the calendar year.
§ 14.
These statutes were adopted at the founding meeting on 28 October 1950 and entered into force on 30 October 1950.
Date
October 30, 1950
Collection
Citation
“Statutes of the Association of Former Prisoners of War in the USA from German POW Walter Schmitt Grouping,” CIC Museum, accessed October 13, 2026, https://cicmuseum.org/items/show/44.