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Holocaust2

Holocaust2 The Holocaust was not only the greatest murder of all time but the greatest theft in the history of mankind. The Jewish people lost an estimated $72 billion in present day US money. The money and loot acquired during World War II should be given back to the Jewish People for a number of different reasons. Countries throughout Europe profited from the Jewish people including so-called neutral countries Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, and Sweden. This poses the questing “How truly neutral were neutral Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, and Portugal” (Chesnoff 43). These countries conspired with the Nazi’s to hold, launder, and buy loot taken from the Jewish people. Gold that was being looted from occupied countries was being laundered through the Swiss banks to these other countries in an attempt to hide the fact that he gold was stolen. The gold that was looted helped to pay for multiple resources for the Nazi’s throughout the war. The Swiss government provided the gas needed for the gas chambers at concentration camps. The Nazi’s paid the Swiss with looted gold. The United States warned the Swiss government that the gold had been looted and that trade with the Nazis should be stopped. The Swiss ignored the warnings. In 1997 Stuart Eizenstat of the Secretary of State published a report that showed the “Swiss government knew the Nazi gold in its possession had been looted” (Distinguished A18). That was not the only trade the Swiss had with the Nazis, however. Just inside the borders of Switzerland trading of art, jewelry, and other items of value were being unloaded bought by the Swiss people from the Nazis (Bower 55). These items were property of Jewish people who had been sent to concentration camps. The Swiss were not the only country that traded with the Nazis. The country of Portugal traded a certain metal that was used for military purposes by the Nazis. Like with the Swiss, the Nazis paid their debt with looted gold form occupied countries. The Portuguese were also warned by the United States to not traded with the Nazis. Even after signing a trade agreement with the Allies stating that trade with Nazis would stop; the trade continued. Poland also got in on the act. When Poland became occupied, all the property that was owned by Jews were turned over to the Nazis. After the war had ended the property was then handed over the Polish government. The Polish government never turned over the property to the rightful owners. These countries had a major hand in carrying out looting and stealing of property from the Jewish people by helping the Nazis. After the fact of the war the Jewish people tried to turn in insurance policies for murder victims of the holocaust. These survivors were asked for death certificates. Most of the survivors did not even have the policy let only the death certificate. The Nazis did not sign out death certificates to Jews that they killed in camp. Doing so would create a list of sorts by which the Nazis could be in trouble for. These insurance companies were at the heart of the scam also. Money that was being paid by the Jews for their policies was then being turned over to the Germans to fund their military campaign. Without even knowing it the Jews were funding the concentration camps and eventually their own death (Bower 276). Even in cases were survivors did have the policies in writing to receive the money they were still denied. Socrates Folkas tried to cash in on a $4,000 life insurance policy to Victoria zu Berlin; he was told the policy did not exist even though the policy was in his hand. These acts are deliberate and a major reason why Holocaust survivors deserve their property back. Throughout the world laws are being made and court cases are being held to help return much of the loot and money from the Jewish people. Cases have already been settled to help set a precedent of what should be done with the Jewish money and loot. Two major Swiss banks were sued and settled out of court for $1.25 billion dollars (Jews File A5). This suit was brought about by Gizella Wiesshaus. She brought on the suit because the bank at which her father had had an account did not give her the money that was in there. They simply stated the account did not exist. The $1.25 billion will not go to just Gizella. This will go to numerous survivors who had account at that certain bank and different Jewish organizations that will put the money to good use. The United States has also created a law that will provide redress for inadequate restitution of assets by institutions throughout the world. Assets that were frozen during World War II will be distributed to Holocaust survivors. Also, the US will donate a certain amount of money to different Jewish organizations for distribution to survivors. All of this money is being focused and distributed correctly and to the right people. Finally, the issue of morality. The loot and money should be given back because it is the right thing to do. In the United States, if someone had a car stolen from them and that car was later found it would be returned to them. Giving the money back is the same theory. These people deserve and need this money. The basic idea of morality in this whole debate is an opinion. This opinion, however, is based on different situations and stories. Holocaust survivors have rights to the money and property they have been denied since the end of World War II. Being denied this money and property has put the remaining survivors in financial despair. The items that were lost held sentimental value to the victims. These people are not asking for punitive damages or even something that that can not be obtained. They are simply asking for the possessions and or money that they put into the care of banks and insurance companies. They are entitled to this money and failure do so would result in bad practice of a business not to mention the fact that they are boldly telling someone who is entitled their possessions, no. The Jewish people were robbed so badly they even had the gold stolen out of their teeth to make gold ingots. The Nazis absolutely devastated the Jewish people and the Jews deserve to have their property returned. Bower, Tom. Nazi Gold. New York: HarperCollins, 1997. Chesnoff, Richard Z. “Fifty years too late, a reckoning.” U.S. News & World Report 122.10 17 March 1997: 43. “A Distinguished Public Servant.” The New York Times 19 Jan 1999: A18. Dunn, Michael Declan. Cybrary of the Holocaust. 25 April 1995 http://remember.org. “Jews file suit to recover assets in Poland.” The New York Times 19 June 1999: A5. “Justice for Jews, 50 years later.” Economist 23 Nov. 1996:58. “An ingot nearer to the truth.” Economist 6 Dec. 1997:56-7. Rosenblatt, Roger. “Paying for Auschwitz.” Time 12 April 1999:153 No. 14. Wiesenthal, Simon. Simon Wiesenthal Center. 1995 http://www.wiesenthal.com. Bibliography: Work Cited Bower, Tom. Nazi Gold. New York: HarperCollins, 1997. Chesnoff, Richard Z. “Fifty years too late, a reckoning.” U.S. News & World Report 122.10 17 March 1997: 43. “A Distinguished Public Servant.” The New York Times 19 Jan 1999: A18. Dunn, Michael Declan. Cybrary of the Holocaust. 25 April 1995 http://remember.org. “Jews file suit to recover assets in Poland.” The New York Times 19 June 1999: A5. “Justice for Jews, 50 years later.” Economist 23 Nov. 1996:58. “An ingot nearer to the truth.” Economist 6 Dec. 1997:56-7. Rosenblatt, Roger. “Paying for Auschwitz.” Time 12 April 1999:153 No. 14. Wiesenthal, Simon. Simon Wiesenthal Center. 1995 http://www.wiesenthal.com.

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