Jewish Group Reports on Results of Claims Against Germany

The American Federation of Jews from Central Europe, which is assisting Jews in the Western Hemisphere in their claims against Germany, today reported that according to official figures 55 percent of the individual restitution cases in the U.S. zone of Germany have been settled up till August 31, 1951.

These cases, the Federation said, represent 627,071,000 German marks, or approximately $150,000,000. Of this amount, 170,000,000 marks have been repaid in cash, and the balance in kind. Claimants living in the United States received 292,000,000 marks; about 61,000,000 were paid to claimants residing in England; some 27,000,000 went to claimants in Israel; about 108,000,000 remained in Germany with claimants living there. The balance was paid to claimants living in various other countries.

With regard to indemnification claims, the Federation said that, according to official sources, 260, 219 applications have been submitted in the U.S. zone of Germany; 174,980 in Bavaria; about 36,000 in Hesse; about 37,000 in Wuerttemberg-Baden and less than 12, 000 in Bremen. Of this total, 120,000 came from applicants not living in Germany. An amount of 116, 587, 396 marks was paid in cash or certificates to 53,178 applicants. Only a few indemnification claims of claimants outside of Germany have been settled so far. In Berlin, which will receive applications until February 8, 1952, about 29, 000–4, 000 from abroad–have been registered up to now. In a few emergency cases 485, 000 marks have been paid.

Commenting on these figures, the Federation declared: “We are looking forward to 1952 as the year during which the major part of the still pending restitution claims should be settled, and during which great strides should be made toward the realization of the indemnification claims. ” The Federation, commemorating its 10th anniversary in the near future, has in its files more than 5, 000 restitution cases and over 10,000 indemnification cases.