Thousands file claims for third list of Holocaust accounts

Thousands have filed claims for the third list of Holocaust accounts swissinfo.ch

More than 25,000 people have filed claims for a third list of bank accounts from the World War II era, which are believed to have belonged to victims of the Holocaust.

Alexander Jolles, a spokesman for the International Claims Resolution tribunal, said that the cases would now be examined to see if they were eligible for compensation. “We have set ourselves a goal of two years,” he added.

Whereas the International Claims Resolution tribunal deals with the claims, the money to pay them comes from a SFr2.14 billion ($1.25 billion) settlement between holocaust victims and Swiss Banks, which was legally approved last year.

The claims were filed after 20,825 account names were posted on the internet in February. Claimants had until last Sunday to submit their applications.

The web publication was the latest in a series of initiatives to encourage applicants to come forward and claim assets which were taken away from them or their family members during the Nazi regime.

It followed a similar internet listing of 16,000 names posted on the world wide web in 1997.

The latest round of claims follows last week’s first instalment of Holocaust compensation payments totalling SFr75.2 million ($43.7 million).

The payments were the first damages to be paid from the Holocaust fund since the Swiss banks, UBS and Credit Suisse, agreed on a settlement with Jewish organisations last year.

The payments followed a court ruling from the US magistrate, Judge Edward Korman, who ordered that at least part of the money should be paid immediately to legitimate claims.

Korman is overseeing the implementation of the settlement and distribution of it’s funds.

swissinfo with agencies