The Austro-German agreement between Vienna and Bonn, under which the Federal Republic of Germany will contribute $80,000,000 toward Austria’s general program of compensation to victims of Nazism and to other Austrian nationals who suffered losses here during the Nazi regime, went into effect today.
At the same time, amendments to Austria’s restitution law, adopted during the last few months by the Parliament, also went into effect. These amendments will benefit specifically victims of Nazism in Austria, a category that includes Jewish persecutees, as well as claims for compensation for property for which there are no specific heirs. In these categories, Austria will contribute sums totaling about $25,250,000, matching the monies for these purposes given by West Germany as part of its overall $80,000,000 contribution.
The Austrian Government has not as yet made public the total amount it will give to match Germany’s $80,000,000, nor the number of Jews to benefit. Overall, the bulk of beneficiaries are expected to be non-Jews.
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