The Bavarian State Radio and the Munich newspaper Sueddeutche Zeitung charged this week-end that German officials are systematically withholding payment of compensation and indemnification to victims of the Nazis while granting former Nazi officials and their families pensions and jobs.
It was charged that of some 500,000 claims already filed for compensation in the United States zone of Germany only 136,000 have been settled. It was underlined that with more than 300,000 new claims expected, there probably will be some 700,000 claims outstanding in 1962 when the indemnification act expires.
Many officials, discriminating against the victims of the Nazis, place impossible requirements of “evidence” in the path of claimants, Another reason for the delay, it was noted, was that there is insufficient personnel with the required training available for processing the claims. Instances of discrimination against victims and in favor of the Nazis were cited on the radio and in the newspaper. It was also pointed out that many of the victims claiming damages were older people and would not live to see their claims honored.
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