2nd Generation Flexing Legal

July 23, 2007 - 3:30 PM by

Children of Holocaust Survivors, commonly referred to as 2nd Generation Survivors, have decidedly NOT had it easy. They suffer nightmares, paranoia, depression, insurmountable fear and an assortment of hang ups and guilt directly associated with their parents’ experiences.

Last week, a group representing thousands of 2nd Generation survivors filed a class action lawsuit asking Germany’s government to pay reparation for psychological damage and therapy.

According to this Fox News story…

The lawsuit marks “the very first time that the German government will be asked to take responsibility and care for those of the second generation in Israel and indeed, worldwide,” attorney Gideon Fisher said before filing the suit at the Tel Aviv District Court.

Germany’s Foreign Ministry declined comment but the country was likely to see the suit as a window for an indefinite number of future claims.

The suit seeks to set up a German-financed fund to pay for biweekly therapy sessions for 15,000 to 20,000 people, or about $10 million annually for three years.

The Israeli director of the non-profit organization behind the lawsuit said it’s a first step aimed at winning recognition that Germany bears responsibility for the suffering of survivors’ children.

Since the 1950s, Germany has paid more than $60 billion in reparations to concentration camp survivors, families of the some of the 6 million Jewish victims, and to the state of Israel. Much of that money went to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, a New York-based organization that negotiates with Germany and distributes the payments.

Tags: • Category: A New Reality, Crime, History and Culture, War 

Comments

2 Comments on 2nd Generation Flexing Legal

  1. Betty on Mon, Jul 23rd 2007 10:49 PM

    2. Can a person in the US participate in this lawsuit or is someone else doing this in the US?

  2. Stephanie on Tue, Jul 24th 2007 2:34 AM

    3. I’m not sure on either front. But you could check with the person who wrote the story for more info or contacts…Also, get in touch w/2nd generation organizations who will probably be well informed…slf

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