German Jewish support was reported today for claims for restitution by Germans who bought Jewish property during the Nazi period “in good faith” and then were forced to return the properties to the original Jewish owners in the postwar period.
Dr. A. Seeger, of the Federal Association of Persons Injured by Restitution, disclosed receipt of a letter from Dr. H. G. van Dam, secretary-general of the Central Council of the Jews in Germany, in which Dr. Seeger told the annual meeting of the association, Dr. van Dam backed the claim that the Federal Government should compensate such Germans.
Dr.Seeger reported that the International League in Israel, which he said was dedicated to giving thanks to persons who aided Jews, had also promised support to these claims.
A test claim has been filed by a member of the association in the district court in Frankenthal.
In a related development, letters were published in the current issue of the Allgemeine Wochenzeitung, commemorating the 15th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s surrender, in which “unsung German heroes” were lauded for aiding Jews during the Hitler Reich period. Karl Marx, publisher, said in a front page article that it was the task of Jews to thank all those persons “who with all their heart and courage sheltered the prosecuted.”
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