Reconciling the Holocaust’s Books

The Holocaust was not only the greatest murder, but also the greatest theft in the history of mankind. It is estimated that Jewish losses (in present value) exceeded $230 billion. Now that the Swiss banks have agreed to pay $1.25 billion to Holocaust victims, the largest settlement of a human rights case in a U.S. court, attention has turned to obtaining restitution for other atrocities and economic crimes committed during World War II.

Lawsuits have been filed against insurance companies, museums and German and Austrian industrial corporations for using slave labor. Even American car giants Ford and General Motors now stand accused of profiting from the Holocaust.

But harsh criticism has been leveled at Holocaust survivors and their lawyers for demanding compensation for Holocaust-era crimes. Prominent members of the Jewish community have expressed concern that the horror of the Holocaust may be overshadowed by the new focus on money, while others predict an anti-Semitic backlash. Still others believe the dignity of Jews is paramount to any claim for restitution and are afraid of Jews appearing greedy if they seek any money. And of course, they blame the lawyers, calling them ambulance chasers or worse.

Swiss banks profited handsomely during World War II at the expense of Holocaust victims. Allowing the Swiss banks to keep funds deposited with them by European Jews and proceeds earned from their dealings with the Nazis amounts to unjust enrichment. Similarly, the still-uncompensated slave laborers who kept alive German and Austrian industry during the war should be paid for their labor by companies who exploited them. Allowing such companies to escape financial liability for benefits earned on the backs of the slave laborers is both immoral and unjust.

The charge of greed made against the survivors is absurd when examined closely. Although $1.25 billion sounds like a lot of money, it must be measured against real financial losses and viewed in perspective: If distributed equally, each living Holocaust survivor would receive less than $2,500. Just who is being greedy: the perpetrators, who held onto funds belonging to others until forced to disgorge it, or the aging victims, who for more than 50 years attempted to retrieve what was rightfully theirs?

Jews cannot let the fear of an anti-Semitic backlash govern their conduct. The important lesson from the Holocaust is that the failure to stand up for rights encourages the flames of anti-Semitism.

Significantly, Jewish Holocaust survivors (and their lawyers) are leading the battle for compensation not only for themselves, but also for gypsies and others persecuted by the Nazis and forcibly shipped as slaves to Nazi Germany. Failure to pursue restitution and to hold the wrongdoers accountable also sends a dangerous message both to existing and future dictatorships throughout the world. In contrast, obtaining compensation for survivors of the Nazi horrors sends a clear and unequivocal signal to despots that human rights abuses, even economic ones, will not remain unpunished.

Finally, the lawyer-bashing is not justified. We do a disservice to the many lawyers who devoted countless hours, many pro bono, to achieve this victory for Holocaust survivors throughout the world. As for those lawyers seeking a fee, their fee applications must be approved by the court, providing a safeguard for excessive and unreasonable fees.

Proceeds from the Holocaust lawsuits belong to survivors and only to survivors. Although justice can never be done, financial accountability must be attempted. Individual survivors are the only ones who can decide what to do with recovered funds. It is their decision, and theirs alone, whether to deposit the check, send it back, rip it up or donate it to charity.

It is an honor and a tribute, not a disgrace, to begin the new century by finally reconciling the financial books for the most heinous atrocities committed during the 20th century.