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Program Overview
Committee for Jewish Claims on Austria
Austrian National Fund for Nazi Victims
Austrian General Settlement Fund (GSF)
Social Welfare Benefits for Austrian Survivors
Austrian Slave and Forced Labor Fund
Related items:
Austria: Pension Rights Expanded to Survivors Born After the Anschluss 08/11/2009
Austria’s "Commemorative Grant" of 2008
Austrian Holocaust Survivors Emergency Assistance Program (AHSEAP)
News: Needy Austrian Nazi Victims Worldwide To Receive Medical Cares 01/28/2008
Austria
Committee for Jewish Claims on Austria
In March 1938, there were approximately 182,000 Jews living in Austria. By May 1945, one-third of them (65,000) were murdered by the Nazis, while the rest had to flee, leaving all their belongings behind. Only very few managed to survive the war in Vienna. There are approximately 16,000 Austrian Jewish survivors alive today, of whom approximately 800 live in Austria.
The Claims Conference established the Committee for Jewish Claims on Austria in 1953 to secure compensation directly from Austria. Initial negotiations were not successful in part because Austria considered itself the first victim of Nazism, rather than acknowledging that a majority of Austrians welcomed and collaborated with the Third Reich. Austria subsequently agreed, after extensive negotiations with the Claims Conference, to a series of measures for the benefit of Nazi victims.
Extensive negotiations supported by the U.S. government led to the establishment of a "Hilsfonds" in 1956 that provided one-time modest payments to Austrians who were persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, and political conviction. It was initially worth €40 million, and grew to a total of €115 million by 1976.
In 1961, the government created the Claims Fund for limited payments for loss of financial assets such as securities, bank accounts, and mortgages, and for compensation for discriminatory taxes paid during the Nazi era. The Claims Conference also pressed for improvements to Austrian social welfare legislation granting benefits to Nazi victims, known as the Victims Assistance Law. In addition, Austria agreed to allow Austrian Jewish victims of Nazism born as late as December 31, 1932 to participate in the Austrian National Social Insurance System.
The information presented herein is intended for information purposes only and solely as a general guide.The information is not intended as legal advice. It is a summary of specific issues and does not represent a definitive or complete statement of the programs and policies of the agencies or governments mentioned. The information may not address the special needs, interests and circumstances of individual recipients. Individual situations differ and recipients are urged to seek individual advice.Individuals seeking specific information on a program are urged to contact the relevant program or to consult their social service agency or help center representative. To the best of our knowledge the information is correct as of the date of this document and this information may change subsequent to the said date. Updated January 2008