Jewish victims of Nazi persecution from certain Western
European countries and from Hungary may now be eligible to
receive monthly compensation payments from the Article 2 Fund
of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany
(Claims Conference). It is estimated that up to an additional
4,000 Holocaust survivors may benefit.
The following announcement is being made to survivors,
through advertisements in Jewish and Israeli media throughout
the world:
1. "Certain additional labor battalions inside Hungary have
recently been recognized as similar to concentration camps
from March 1944. If you were incarcerated in a Hungarian
labor battalion you might now be eligible for the Article 2
Fund.
2. If you were persecuted as a Jew by the Nazis and were
previously excluded from compensation, because at the time of
persecution and at the time when global agreements were made
between Germany and various countries you were a citizen of
one of these countries, you might now be able to obtain
monthly assistance from the Article 2 Fund of the Claims
Conference, if you meet the following criteria:
* You were a citizen of one of the following countries at
the time of persecution and in the year stated: Austria is an
exception (only citizenship before 13 March 1938), Belgium
(1960), Denmark (1959), France, 1960), Great Britain (1964),
Holland (1960), Italy (1961), Luxembourg (1959), Norway
(1959), Sweden (1964), Switzerland (1961); and
* You have not yet received compensation for loss of freedom
or damage to health caused by Nazi persecution (apart from
payments from German industry or the Federal Foundation, the
Austrian Reconciliation Foundation, the Swiss Humanitarian
Fund or the Swiss Bank Settlement); and
* You meet the Article 2 Fund criteria (including that the
applicant lives in financial need in accordance with the
prescribed income limits).
3. In addition, if you were persecuted as a Jew by the Nazis
and were a Greek citizen at the time of persecution and in
1960 you might be able to obtain monthly assistance from the
Article 2 Fund of the Claims Conference, if you meet the
criteria of the fund.
4. If you were a citizen of one of the above countries only
at the time of persecution or only at the time of the global
agreement and do not receive a pension for Nazi persecution
but believe you meet the Article 2 Fund criteria, you should
also apply.
The Article 2 Fund, a modest monthly pension, has paid more
than $1.3 billion to more than 66,000 Holocaust survivors
since it began in 1992, arising out of negotiations the
Claims Conference initiated with the newly unified
Germany.
The Claims Conference continues to negotiate with Germany for
the further liberalization of eligibility criteria so more
survivors may benefit.
Information and applications are available by contacting the
Claims Conference: Claims Conference, P.O. Box 74, 61000 Tel
Aviv. Tel: 03-519-4401. Fax: 03-516- 0581. Email:
infodesk@claimscon.org
The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany
(Claims Conference) represents world Jewry in negotiating for
compensation and restitution for victims of Nazi persecution
and their heirs. The Claims Conference administers
compensation funds, recovers unclaimed Jewish property, and
allocates funds to institutions that provide social welfare
services to Holocaust survivors and preserve the memory and
"lessons" of the Holocaust.
