The Rheinmetall German Arms Works, recipient of a $74, 200, 000 arms contract from the United States, has deposited 2, 500, 000 marks ($625, 000) in a Frankfurt bank yesterday to settle claims of survivors of wartime forced labor at its plant, the B’nai B’rith announced here today.
Dr. William A. Wexler, B’nai B’rith international president, said the money was deposited for the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. The firm had been severely criticized for a record of consistent refusal to consider the claims of some 1, 000 survivors, many of whom are now American citizens. It was indicated that the Rheinmetall compromise agreement was a factor in the U.S. Defense Department’s decision to give the German firm the contract for production of cannon.
Last February, B’nai B’rith protested to the State and Defense Departments against the plan to give Rheinmetall the contract. The B’nai B’rith objection was based on refusal by Rheinmetall to accept “any moral or legal obligation” or enter into any discussion for “even token payments” to survivors. The State Department then advised B’nai B’rith of its interest in an equitable solution of the dispute. Rheinmetall is the fifth West German firm to settle such claims. Others are Krupp, I.G. Farben, A. E.T. -Telefunken and Siemens -Halske.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
