Bonn Deputy Says East European Jewish Escapees Will Get Reparations

The President of the West German Parliament’s Claims Committee told a press conference here today that Parliament is due to adopt an amendment to the Federal Indemnification Law (BEG) enabling Jews who escaped from East Europe after 1953 to file reparations claims for imprisonment, loss of health and other effects of Nazi persecution.

Dr. Martin Hirsch said that this amendment would be adopted in 1963. Under the indemnification law as it stands, only claims filed before a 1953 deadline have been recognized. Jews who suffered Nazi persecutions but were unable, because of residence in East European countries, to file their claims before the deadline, have not been eligible for reparations payments.

Dr. Hirsch said also that it now seemed certain that, in the course of 1963, two additional amendments to the Indemnification Law and the Federal Restitution Law would be adopted, so as to extend the benefits of these laws to victims of Nazi practices in Eastern Europe. “These people cannot be blamed, nor can they be made to suffer for having been prevented from leaving Eastern Europe in time to file their claims, ” he declared.

The Federal Restitution Law provides compensation for property losses suffered as a result of Nazi discriminatory actions. The West German deputy pointed out, however, that a major problem facing the claims committee was shortage of funds. He told newsmen that “the 1,500,000,000 marks ($375,000,000), first appropriated, is not sufficient to meet all claims fully, and we hope for additional funds. ” He warned that “a Finance Minister can only give as much as he has” and asserted that West German finances were currently passing through a difficult phase.