The first attempt to secure compensation from the German government for the attacks made by Nazis against Jews, has been initiated here today by the well-known Belgian Jewish lawyer, Professor Nicco Ginsburg, in behalf of Dr. Arthur Steigler, former director of the Berlin film concern, “Weltfilm.”
Dr. Steigler was arrested by Nazi storm troopers, March 14, in’ his office. He was badly beaten in the presence of his entire staff and his property, including film reels and apparatus, was confiscated.
He was released only after intervention by the Polish consul in Berlin, on the ground that Dr. Steigler was a Polish citizen. The Nazis tried to justify the arrest and the maltreatment by accusing him of being a Communist, because Dr. Steigler had distributed among others, several Russian-made films.
Dr. Steigler is in possession of documents signed by the Berlin public prosecutor, Mittelbach, in which the police presidium was requested to investigate the case, because the prosecutor was of the opinion that the Nazi storm troopers had exceeded their powers in this instance.
Professor Ginsburg intends to bring the action for compensation, first before a German court, and if unsuccessful there, to bring the matter up before the International Tribunal at The Hague.
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