The first claims for indemnification under the General Claims Law have already been made in the three German states in the United States zone of occupation. A small number of claims have been paid, up to a total of 3,000 marks, but only to persons who claimed more than twice that amount and who have been residing in Germany continuously since Jan. 1, 1947.
In this city, the Bavarian Restitution Office has finally published the new regulations covering claims for damages to health, bodily injury and death, and damages caused by arrest by the Nazis. The regulations make no distinction between Germans and non-Germans, as long as the victims suffered at the hands of the Nazis. Persons who emigrated from Germany before May 9, 1945 because of religious, racial or political persecution are also eligible for indemnification. DP’s who suffered at the hands of the Germans and who resided in one of the three states after their liberation are eligible, even if they emigrated after May 9, 1945.
Persons now living outside of Germany are entitled to indemnification, if they qualify in all other respects, but no claims will be sent out of the country. Instead, special accounts will be opened by the various provincial restitution offices for persons who cannot at this time transfer such funds abroad.
However, all claims either by persons in or outside of Germany, must be filed by March 31, 1950. Applications from abroad may be filed by registered mail or by a duly empowered representative in Germany. All applications must include an affidavit that the applicant was living in Germany on or before Jan. 1, 1947.
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.
