Foundation Evz – the First Decade
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FOUNDATION EVZ – THE FIRST DECADE www.stiftung-evz.de Foundation EVZ THE FIRST DECADE IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE VICTIMS OF NATIONAL SOCIALISM, WE TAKE ON RESPONSIBILITY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN PEOPLES. WE UPHOLD OUR COMMITMENT TO THE SURVIVORS. We cannot close this chapter on the past – and the We will have to find suitable ways of explaining payments disbursed to former forced labourers and these crimes to coming generations. Young people other victims of National Socialism by the Founda- want to know what happened and how it was tion »Remembrance, Responsibility and Future« possible. However, it is not just a matter of learning do not alter this. The payments were an important about history, but about acquiring a political and long overdue contribution to the process of compass. For liberty and democracy, tolerance coming to terms with political injustice. But history and humanity cannot be taken for granted. They does not fade away, and it cannot be overcome. It demand unstinting commitment from each and builds the foundation for the present, and how we every one of us. Fostering this commitment can and deal with history affects the future of every society. should be the central aim of the Foundation EVZ National remembrance is therefore a political and a in its funding activities joint task that cannot be left solely in the hands of private or civic initiatives or state institutions. Photo: Photography competition of the Foundation EVZ, 2009 EVZ, competition of the Foundation Photography Photo: In the foreseeable future, the eyewitnesses will no longer be among us. The challenging and important task of keeping alive the memory will then be the Prof. Dr. Norbert Lammert In remembrance of the victims of National Socialist injustice, the Foundation »Remembrance, Respon- sole responsibility of younger generations. President of the German Bundestag sibility and Future« works to promote human rights and understanding between peoples. It also up- holds its commitment to the survivors. The Foundation is thus an expression of the continuing political and moral responsibility of the state, industry and society for the wrongs committed in the name of National Socialism. The Foundation supports international projects in the following areas: Financial payments cannot compensate for human Now that its main task is complete, the Foundation suffering. When the Foundation »Remembrance, continues to cooperate with numerous projects A critical examination of history Responsibility and Future« was created ten years whose work focuses on remembrance and the fu- ago, we wanted to signal through our humanitar- ture. Working for human rights ian commitment to the surviving forced labourers that the terrible suffering inflicted on them would I would like to thank all who have helped ensure Commitment to the victims of National Socialism not be forgotten. The creation of the Foundation that justice, recognition and respect has been shown was and therefore still is of great political and moral to the surviving forced labourers. The Foundation »Remembrance, Responsibility and Future« was established in 2000, primarily to make significance for the Federal Republic of Germany. payments to former forced labourers. The payments programmes were completed in 2007. The Founda- The results of the Foundation’s work are impressive: tion’s initial capital of EUR 5.2 billion was provided by the German Government and German industry. payments of around EUR 4.4 billion were made to Of this, EUR 358 million was set aside to finance project work. The Foundation finances its long-term over 1.6 million people in almost 100 countries. funding activities out of the income generated by this capital. Dr. Angela Merkel German Chancellor Looking back, the great difficulties THE INITIATIVE TO CREATE THE FOUNDATION EVZ PAYMENTS TO FORMER FORCED LABOURERS For the victims, recognition we faced at the outset are fading of the suffering is at least as impor- in our memory. What remains is tant as financial compensation the satisfaction at the success of Dr. h.c. Charlotte this great and historic project and Knobloch the recognition on the part of the President of the survivors that our country made Zentralrat der Juden this important gesture. in Deutschland Photo: German Government Photo: Dr. Michael (Central Council of Jansen the Jews in Germany) Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation Neither after World War II nor as a result of German reunification was any mechanism set up EVZ to compensate former forced labourers. It was not until the end of the 1990s that the German Government and the German Industry Foundation Initiative agreed to negotiations. The discussions leading to the creation of the Foundation EVZ Only honest dialogue with young Moscow and Reconciliation, for Understanding Foundation Photo: were the first major post-war people can guarantee that our Over two million applications were received before the closing date for submissions. negotiations with representatives past will not become our future. Seven international partner organisations helped process the applications and of the victims of National Socialist barbarity from Central were responsible for the payments. Irina and Eastern Europe. Scherbakowa Memorial, Moscow Dr. Jiˇri Sitlerˇ Ambassador of the Photo: German Government Photo: Czech Republic and trustee of the Foun dation EVZ No country in recorded history has On 17 July 2000 Germany signed an agreement with the US Government and entered into an ever undertaken such an obliga- international agreement with Israel, Central and Eastern European states, German industry and tion and on such a scale and scope the claims lawyers. The German Government and German industry each agreed to contribute The compensation for the victims, following a war. (...) The compro- DM 5 billion to the Foundation. who had to wait over 50 years mise we reached succeeded in pro- for recognition of the injustices viding a measure of justice, while they suffered, is an important also assuring German industry of contribution towards peace and legal peace. reconciliation. FORCED LABOUR UNDER NATIONAL SOCIALISM Warsaw Reconciliation, for Polish-German Foundation Photo: Stuart E. Dr. Dieter Kastrup Eizenstat Applicants at the Foundation for Understanding and Reconciliation, the Polish partner organisation, Former ambassador Ambassador, USA in Warsaw. Up to the end of 2006, a total of EUR 4.36 billion was paid out to 1.6 million former forced and former labourers or their legal successors in 98 countries. Payments were also made for property losses, Chairman of the Board of insurance losses and personal injury in connection with National Socialist injustice. Trustees of the Photo: Federal Archives Federal Photo: Archives Federal Photo: Foundation EVZ The German Industry Foundation Initiative, which led to the creation of the Foundation, was The agreed payments had a a unique and unprecedented symbolic value – for many they expression of atonement by a also came too late. Nevertheless, nation’s enterprises for their the creation of the Foundation involvement in historical injustice was a breakthrough, also in Ger- and of the need to remain man-Polish relations. vigilant in the future. In establishing the Founda- Forced labour was a crime against humanity. People often had to tion, the main objective was work under inhuman conditions. Mortality rates were highest among Prof. Dr. Dr. Manfred to provide individual com- concentration camp inmates, who included many Jews, Sinti and Jerzy Kranz Gentz pensation to former forced Roma, and Soviet prisoners of war. The forced labourers worked in Former ambassador Cofounder and labourers and other victims of companies, local authorities, agriculture and even in private house- and trustee of Spokesman of the the Foundation EVZ German Industry the National Socialist regime. holds. Photo: Press and Information Office of the Federal Government of the Press and Information Office Photo: Foundation Between 1939 and 1945 more Initiative and for than 12 million people were mer trustee of subjected to forced labour in On 12 June 2007 the payments procedure was formally concluded at an official ceremony hosted by the Foundation EVZ Germany. German President Horst Köhler and attended by the German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Through the valuable work HUMANITARIAN PROJECTS THE THREE ACTIVITY AREAS Hope now lies in the future. performed by its encounter and Through the projects operated eyewitness programmes, the by the Future Fund, we must not Foundation EVZ helps to ensure only learn the lessons of history we do not forget. In the activity area A for the present and the future, but most importantly, we must keep Iris Berben IOM, 2007 Photo: CRITICAL EXAMINATION these lessons alive in the minds of Actor OF HISTORY, the Foundation Photo: Julia Gerstenberg Photo: coming generations. works to anchor the history of forced labour under National Dr. Jörg Freiherr Socialism firmly in the Euro- Frank von Fürstenwerth pean memory and to commu- Chairman of the nicate the experiences of the German Insurance The creation of the Foundation victims. It also promotes un- Association and de was a tangible sign of hope derstanding for the different puty trustee of the established by our civil society. portrayals of history in Europe. Foundation EVZ Dr. h.c. Joachim Gauck Chairman of Gegen Vergessen – Speaking out against injustice Für Demokratie e.V. and giving victims the recognition (Against forgetting they deserve opens up the future. – for democracy) Gesine Schwan Political scientist, As well as providing for individual payments to former victims of National Socialism, the Foundation German For me and for the victims asso- Law made funding available for humanitarian programmes. This included projects organised by the Government ciations, the major achievement Jewish Claims Conference for Jewish persecutees of National Socialism and projects that assisted per- coordinator for of the Foundation is that forced secuted Roma and Sinti. Drom (registered association) Amaro Photo: GermanPolish labourers finally received public cooperation recognition and attention in Ger- up to 2009 many and in their home countries.