During World War II, some 12 million people were forced to endure slave labor. Although the 1953 London Debt Agreement imposed a moratorium on slave labor claims, the 1989 reunification of Germany and two subsequent legal opinions effectively lifted the ban. As a result, at least 40 slave labor cases have been filed in U.S. courts.

In November of 1998, Volkswagen AG, a company with significant exposure in the slave-labor area, moved to establish a Humanitarian fund "for granting aid to former forced laborers" forced to work for Volkswagenwerk during WW II (1940-45).

KMPG Deutsche Treuhand-Gesellschraft AG is the fund administrator. Write: Postfach 55 03 50, 60402, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, or fax: +49 (69) 95 87-33 33 for a claims application.

Those requesting aid will be sent a "brief questionnaire," which will then be examined "in an unbureacratic, expeditious and swift manner." An additional 15 German companies are currently negotiating on the size of a compensation fund for slave laborers.

In July of 2000, the German government announced it would participate in the compensation of forced slave laborers by establishing a $5.2 billion fund paid for by the sale of shares in state-owned companies.

There are estimated to be between 1.5 million and 2.3 million eligible claimants. Payments are expected to range from $2,600 - $3,125 for laborers forced to work in German factories, while those held in concentration camps could receive $7,800.

Due to the number of large number of pending lawsuits and proposed settlements, Holocaust victims and heirs should use the following resources to keep abreast of developments:

The Simon Wiesenthal Center, 9760 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90035, is perhaps the best single source of information on recovery of Holocaust-era assets and claims related to legal settlements to which Holocaust survivors and their heirs may be entitled. A comprehensive web site is maintained at: www.wiesenthal.com

The Holocaust Claims Processing Office offers assistance in the recovery of assets deposited (including safe deposit boxes) in Swiss banks between 1/1/33 and 5/9/45; and moneys never paid in connection with insurance policies issued by European underwriters. It can also help track down looted art.

Contact:

Holocaust Claims
Processing Office
New York State
Banking Department
One State Street
New York, NY 10004-1417
800) 695-3318 (U.S. toll-free)
(212) 709-5583 (outside U.S.)

or visit: www.claims.state.ny.us

Those whose property may have been confiscated between 1939 and 1945 by the UK Custodian for Enemy Property should check to see if compensation is available pursuant to a Payment Scheme set up in 1999 by the British Government. Go to: www.enemyproperty.gov.uk or contact:

EPCAP Secretariat
EPCAP/Berr
1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET   UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 7215 3486 or +44 (020) 7215 2268
Fax: +44 (0)20 7215 3487
Email: janette.plumridge@berr.gsi.gov.uk