Possehl-Stiftung

The Possehl-Stiftung is a German foundation headquartered in Lübeck, established in 1919 through the will of the merchant and senator Emil Possehl. Unlike most foundations, it does not rely on a fixed endowment; instead, it is the sole shareholder of the diversified industrial and trading group L. Possehl & Co. mbH, using the group's profits to fund its charitable purposes. The foundation's mission, as set out by its founder, is to promote "everything good and beautiful" in Lübeck: preserving the city's appearance and public spaces, supporting charitable institutions, fostering youth, art, and science, and aiding people in social need. It is a co-shareholder of the European Hansemuseum Lübeck and the KOLK17 Figurentheater & Museum, and it awards the Possehl Prizes for music, art, engineering, and architecture. The foundation has been based in the Beckergrube in Lübeck's old town since 1919, the same location as the L. Possehl & Co. group founded in 1847. Over its history, the foundation has navigated inflation, Nazi Gleichschaltung, and post-war reconstruction, and today it continues to distribute substantial funds—over 15 million euros in 2009 alone—to projects in Lübeck. Since January 2025, musicologist Wolfgang Sandberger has chaired the foundation's board.

The Possehl-Stiftung was established in 1919 following the death of Emil Possehl, a Lübeck merchant and senator, who bequeathed his company L. Possehl & Co. mbH to the foundation. It was legally constituted by senate decree on 17 May 1919 and began its funding activities. Unlike most foundations, it was not endowed with fixed capital; instead, it became the sole shareholder of L. Possehl & Co., using the company's profits to fulfill its statutory purposes. The first meeting took place on 11 June 1919 in Emil Possehl's home on Musterbahn, chaired by Julius Vermehren until 1928. Inflation eroded the initial 1.5 million marks, delaying disbursements; the second distribution occurred only in 1927. From 1929, the foundation acted as the parent company of the group, which transformed from a trading house into a mixed trading and production conglomerate. After the Nazi seizure of power in 1933, the foundation was gradually brought into line (Gleichschaltung). On 17 August 1933, Lübeck's mayor Otto-Heinrich Drechsler and state commissioner Friedrich Völtzer joined the board. The statutes were revised in August 1934 under Hans Böhmcker, eliminating elected committees and reducing all bodies to appointed members. The foundation lost its independence; from 1937 the mayor appointed the board, and after the Greater Hamburg Act, foundation supervision fell to the regional president in Schleswig. Foundation funds were diverted to the NSDAP and the Winterhilfswerk. In 1937, construction began on the Possehl-Siedlung for "loyal Volksgenossen." The last board meeting before the war was on 23 May 1939. The air raid on Lübeck on 28 March 1942 destroyed large parts of the city and hit the company headquarters in Beckergrube, burning most files and archives. Business halted until the end of 1942. After World War II, the foundation was denazified. Its statutes were amended to remove Nazi provisions, and it returned to being a charitable foundation dedicated to education, science, culture, and welfare. In the post-war period, it primarily supported welfare organizations. At the 1948 currency reform, L. Possehl & Co.'s balance sheet totaled 12.1 million Reichsmarks, with a net profit of 179,000 RM, 21 participations in the group, and 8 participations in companies in the Western zones. On 24 March 1949, the foundation's assets, blocked by Military Government Law No. 52, were released for private foundations by the Lübeck legal office. With the failure of the referendum on Lübeck's independence, the city lost its status and was assigned to Schleswig-Holstein as a major city, restoring the foundation's freedom of action. At the first meeting of the working committee at the end of 1950, it was agreed to use the available 100,000 DM, with 66,000 DM for social purposes and 34,000 DM for cultural purposes. The diversified business activities of the Possehl Group reduced the foundation's economic dependence. After German reunification, distributions grew steadily: 7 million DM from 1990 profits were distributed in 1991; 10 million DM in 1994 and 1995; 18.8 million DM in 1996. In 2008, despite the financial crisis, the foundation continued its funding unabated, distributing over 12 million euros; in 2009, over 15 million euros. The construction of the European Hansemuseum, a subsidiary of the foundation to which it contributed 41 million euros, made it known beyond Lübeck. Since January 2025, musicologist Wolfgang Sandberger has been chairman of the board, succeeding entrepreneur Max Schön.

• 2025

  Wolfgang Sandberger becomes chairman of the board in January, succeeding Max Schön.

• 2009

  Distributions exceed 15 million euros.

• 2008

  Despite the financial crisis, the foundation distributes over 12 million euros.

• 1996

  Distributions reach 18.8 million DM.

• 1994

  Distributions reach 10 million DM.

• 1991

  7 million DM from 1990 profits distributed to the foundation.

• 1950

  At the first working committee meeting, 100,000 DM is allocated: 66,000 DM for social purposes and 34,000 DM for cultural purposes.

• 1949

  On 24 March, foundation assets blocked by Military Government Law No. 52 are released for private foundations by the Lübeck legal office.

• 1948

  At currency reform, L. Possehl & Co. balance sheet totals 12.1 million RM, net profit 179,000 RM, 21 group participations and 8 participations in Western zone companies.

• 1945

  After World War II, the foundation is denazified; statutes amended to remove Nazi provisions.

• 1942

  Air raid on Lübeck on 28 March destroys large parts of the city and hits the company headquarters in Beckergrube; business halts until end of 1942.

• 1937

  Construction begins on the Possehl-Siedlung for "loyal Volksgenossen"; the mayor appoints the board.

• 1934

  Statutes revised under Hans Böhmcker; elected committees eliminated, all bodies reduced to appointed members.

• 1933

  On 17 August, Lübeck's mayor Otto-Heinrich Drechsler and state commissioner Friedrich Völtzer join the foundation board as part of Nazi Gleichschaltung.

• 1929

  The foundation becomes the parent company of the L. Possehl & Co. group, which transforms into a mixed trading and production conglomerate.

• 1927

  Second distribution of funds after inflation delays.

• 1919

  Emil Possehl dies on 4 February; the Possehl-Stiftung is legally established by senate decree on 17 May and begins funding activities.

• 1919

  First meeting of the foundation on 11 June in Emil Possehl's home on Musterbahn, chaired by Julius Vermehren.

A charitable foundation that uses the profits of its wholly owned industrial group to fund social, cultural, and educational projects in Lübeck.

1. 1Startseite - Possehl-Stiftungpossehl-stiftung.de
2. 2Possehl-Stiftung - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Possehl-Stiftung - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org