Germany and Austria Sign Treaty on Indemnification of Nazi Victims

West Germany and Austria today signed a treaty, negotiated last summer, under which the Federal Republic will contribute funds to help Austria indemnify Austrian victims of Nazism, about 100,000 expellees from Eastern countries, and Austrians who lost money when the Nazis confiscated social insurance funds after annexing Austria in 1938.

While West Germany’s total contribution to the Austrian compensation program will amount to 330,000,000 Deutschemarks (over $80,000,000), only a part of that will ultimately go to the Nazi victims, among whom there are many Jews; It is estimated that, of about $45,000,000 that Austria will pay to the Nazi victims, Germany will contribute about $34,000,000. The treaty signed today is expected to be ratified by the West German Parliament next month.