Only one of West Germany’s 11 states — Bremen –will be able to complete its payment of indemnification to surviving Jewish victims of Nazi persecution by Dec. 31,1969, the deadline prescribed by law, it was disclosed here today at the annual meeting of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. But the states that do not meet the deadline will be required by law to pay four percent interest per annum on all indemnification claims outstanding as of Jan.1,1970.
The Claims Conference, which utilizes funds received under the West German restitution agreement to provide relief, resettlement and rehabilitation for needy survivors of Nazi persecution living outside of Israel, will remain existence until the new indemnification law is implemented, according to its president, Dr. Nahum Goldmann.
The law, enacted on Sept. 19, 1965, provided indemnification for Nazi persecutees who left Eastern Europe after Oct. 1,1953, the effective date of the original indemnification law. As of Dec. 31,1967, a total of 683,851 claims have been filed under the new legislation. In all, 3,800,572 claims for indemnification were filed between 1953 and the end of 1967, it was disclosed.
Of the West German states that are behind in their payment of claims, most hope to be able to complete the operation by the end of 1971. But in some, notably Rhineland-Pfalz and Berlin, payment may be drawn out until 1975 and beyond.
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.
