The Israel Ministry of Justice launched today a worldwide search for 26,000 victims of Nazi property confiscations for whom claims were filed with West Germany.
These persons, or their heirs, are being sought on the basis of unquestionable evidence possessed by the Ministry of Justice Administrator General’s office of such confiscations by the Nazis particularly in Germany and in Poland. The Administrator General has photographic copies of the confiscation orders and information that the value of the confiscated property totals 10,000,000 German marks.
Bonn authorities had agreed to compensate confiscation victims who met the April 1, 1959 deadline for filing claims. On the basis of the documents, the Administrator General filed claims in the names of the owners or heirs to protect their right to file claims.
Israel is now trying to locate the claimants to inform them of their right to proceed with individual claims. While claimants can press their claims personally, the Administrator General is willing to act as attorney if empowered by the individual claimants. The list of claimants will be displayed at various Israel Government offices, all Israel Consulates abroad and by organizations of Nazi victims.
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