An urgent appeal to Jewish organizations and Jewish publications to inform former Greek nationals now residing in America and in other countries that the deadline for filing claims for compensation suffered by Nazi victims in Greece is December 1, 1961 and that no claim filed after that date will receive consideration, was issued today by the National Council of Greek Jewish Communities.
“We know there are thousands in America who are eligible and who have not as yet filed their claims or filed them faultily,” Mr. Isidor Noah, president of the National Council, stated, “It would be tragic for them to lose this money due them by default.”
The Greek indemnification law was enacted by the Greek Government as a result of the agreement between Greece and the Federal German Republic for the distribution of $28,750,000 to provide compensation payments to former Nazi victims in Greece who suffered on account of race, religion or opposition to Nazi ideology.
Under the law, thousands of persons resident in the United States, Israel, Western and Central Europe and in other areas, who during World War II as Greek nationals lost a spouse, parent, child, grandparent, brother or sister who was also a Greek citizen, or who themselves suffered imprisonment in Nazi concentration camps, or injuries to health, have become eligible for compensation. It is emphasized that under the law both the victim as well as the claimant filing on behalf of the victim must have had Greek nationality when the act of persecution occurred.
Claims must be filed through a lawyer accredited to the Greek courts, with the Secretary of the Tribunal of First Instance, Santa Rosa Street, Athens, Greece, and a certified copy with the Greek Ministry of Finance, 10 Karayorghi Servias Street, Athens. For subsequent processing of claims, the services of a lawyer are also indispensable. In view of the short time left for filing claims, the following lawyers in Athens are cited by the National Council of Greek Jewish Communities, whose names are known to the Jewish Community of Athens as lawyers willing to act on behalf of claimants residing outside Greece:
Daniel Alhanatis, Nikis 2; Haim Cohen, Emm. Benaki 37; Gabriel Gabrielides, Stadiou 43; Maurice Issahar, Koloktroni 25; Frederic Korniger, Panepistimiou 20; David Levy, Parnassou 2; Moise Matathias, Iktinou 3; Acher Moissis, Parnassou 2; Joseph Schiaky, Academias 76.
In listing these names, the National Council emphasized that they are not given as a recommendation but for immediate reference and convenience of claimants, and without the assumption of any responsibility or liability. Additional information can be obtained from the nearest Greek embassy or consulate, or from the United Restitution Organization which deals with claims on behalf of Nazi victims.
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