Ferencz interviewed by Lynn Samuels

Identifier
irn1001055
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 1994.A.0037
  • RG-12.021.16
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • English
Source
EHRI Partner

Creator(s)

Scope and Content

Radio interview with Benjamin Ferencz. Host: Lynn Samuels. WBAI. Interview focuses on Ferencz's involvement at Nuremberg and in negotiations with the West German government for restitution of property. The Reparations Treaty provided a) a lump sum (3 billion DM) to Israel paid in German goods over 10-12 years; b) $100 million to Jewish charitable organizations over a ten year period for relief work outside of Israel in reestabishing Nazi survivors and Jewish communities; and c) special new laws in Germany for compensation to survivors if they prove injury from Nazi persecution [injury includes: 1) loss of freedom, for instance, through incarceration at a concentration camp); 2) permanent physical disability; or 3) economic losses, for instance, barring Jews from practicing certain professions]. Ferencz also played a key role in developing a legal aid society (United Restitution Organization) to help victims. He discusses in great detail the content of his book "Less than Slaves" (1979) that deals primarily with forced labor and German industrialists. For the most part, these huge corporations claimed they saved Jewish lives and refused to either legally or morally compensate victims. Also, they claimed they were forced to employ slave labor, which according to Ferencz is a "filthy lie," as he discovered documentation otherwise.

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