Heinrich Gutermuth (18 June 1898 – 28 June 1977) was a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

trade union leader. Born in Ilbeshausen (near

Grebenhain Grebenhain is a municipality in the Vogelsbergkreis in Hesse, Germany. Geography Location The municipality of Grebenhain lies from 400 to 733 m above sea level in the southeastern Vogelsberg Mountains, about 30 km west of Fulda. Neighbourin ...

), Gutermuth completed an apprenticeship as a blacksmith, then served in

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. After the war, he found work as a mechanic at a coal mine in

Recklinghausen Recklinghausen (; Westphalian: ''Riäkelhusen'') is the northernmost city in the Ruhr-Area and the capital of the Recklinghausen district. It borders the rural Münsterland and is characterized by large fields and farms in the north and indus ...

. He joined the Union of Christian Miners, and from 1926 worked full-time as a union official. The union was dissolved by the Nazis in 1933, and Gutermuth found himself unemployed, but obtained work at the Bielefelder linen factory. He was conscripted in 1939, and late in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

was captured by Soviet troops. After the war, Gutermuth was a founder member of IG Bergbau, a new miners' union, working as its secretary until 1953. He was then elected as the union's president, but renounced the position in favour of

Heinrich Imig Heinrich Gottlieb Imig (24 February 1893 – 24 February 1956) was a German trade unionist and politician. Born in Essen, Imig worked as a coal miner from the age of 19. He joined the Social Democratic Party, and also the Alter Verband union ...

. He instead served as vice-president of the union, finally becoming president in 1964. Under his leadership, the union began representing other energy workers, and changed its name to "IG Bergbau und Energie". In 1963, he was elected as president of the

Miners' International Federation The Miners' International Federation (MIF), sometimes known as the International Federation of Miners, was a global union federation of trade unions. History The federation was established in 1890 at a meeting in Brussels by unions from Austria, ...

(MIF). He retired from domestic trade unionism in 1964, but remained active with the MIF for a few more years. Gutermuth was awarded the Great Cross of the

Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (german: Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, or , BVO) is the only federal decoration of Germany. It is awarded for special achievements in political, economic, cultural, intellect ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gutermuth, Heinrich 1898 births 1977 deaths German military personnel of World War I German prisoners of war in World War II held by the Soviet Union German trade unionists People from Vogelsbergkreis Grand Crosses with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany