George L. Rosenblatt, a Jewish 68-year-old naturalized American citizen, residing in New York City, will be the recipient of the first award by the U.S. Foreign Claims Settlement Commission against the German Democratic Republic (GDR) for property expropriated by the Nazis and later taken over by the East German Communist regime.
Under a federal statute adopted in 1976, the Commission is empowered to adjudicate claims by American citizens for such property and determine the amounts to be paid. Rosenblatt, who became a citizen in 1943, filed his claim with the Commission last May 31 for loss of a family home in Gotha, East Germany.
The Commission awarded him $20,000. It also awarded Rosenblatt interest at six percent from September, 1952 when the East German authorities took over his property, until such time as funds for payment are mode available by the GDR. The principal and interest are both subject to negotiations between the U.S. and the GDR.
MAY HAVE TO WAIT SEVERAL YEARS
David Rogers, director of the Commission’s claims program, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency Friday that Rosenblatt” may have to wait several years and he may not get 100 cents on the dollar” of his award. Rogers explained that when the U.S. recognized East Germany several years ago, the GDR agreed in the future to negotiate claims. The negotiations are conducted by the State Department after claims are filed and the agreed sum goes to the U.S. Treasury. He said payments would mostly be made on a pro-rate basis because the total fund will probably be smaller than the Commission’s awards.
Rogers said that more than 1000 claims have been filed with the Commission since the filing period began on May 15, 1977. The deadline for filing under the present program is May 16, 1978. He urged prospective claimants to contact the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission at IIII 20th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 29579 for claim forms.
Rogers said that a great many Jewish claimants may come under the U.S. statue. Because of the Nazi racially discriminatory laws, he said, Jews had to sell property generally for small amounts. While the Commission, Rogers said, cannot pay for a loss suffered in 1938, the Commission may rule that a sale made in 1938 was not “free” and could therefore consider the Jewish owner still owns the property if he can show it was taken over by the GDR after World War II.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
