Sunday, October 18, 2015

Sonia Diamond Holocaust Reparations Application


After surviving the Holocaust and coming to America, my grandmother Sonia Diamond applied for reparations from the German government.  My father tells me that my grandparents did get reparations--and they turned the money around straight to charity.  The following is the content of her 1950 application.

Translation:
In the case of the persecuted Sonja Diment, section A = the filled-in spaces deal with family and first name, maiden name (Bajch); date & place of birth (12 July 1925, Poland), profession (pupil), and the work carried out at the time of the application in the DP camp 'Neu Freimann Siedlung,' near Munich, Bavaria (housewife), current address as of 1 January 1947 (Neu Freimann, Bavaria), in case of refugees day and place of admission in Bavaria (December 1945), in the case of emigrants the locale where registered by the police (Neu Freimann, 1945 - 1947); in the case of DPs day and locale the ID card was issued (Neu Freimann, Bavaria, handed in on date of emigration); last place before emigration (Neu Freimann, Bavaria).
Translation:
After the blank framed sections that ask for time spent in concentration camps, and details about the DP camp's management etc., proof of residence, [signed] (Sonja Diment) the questions are: owner of a local ID card (NO), has the applicant ever been a member of the NSDAP [Nazi party] (NO), if yes, than provide rank and membership # and date ( — ).
Translation:
II. information about the applicant (left blank). III. information about compensation already received (none), underlined part b.) = "I have not yet received any kind of financial compensation by any institution, regarding racial, religious or political persecution."
Translation:
part c) "I have received the following credit from the Bavarian office for restitution" (none). IV. notes regarding assignations of any restitution entitlements = ("I have not done any of that") V. questions regarding refund claims (none), claims according to this page of the form C) [checked off] = loss of freedom. April 19, 1950 [signed] Sonja Diment
Translation:

In the case of the persecuted Sonja Diment, section C = a form that deals specifically with loss of freedom.= the filled-in spaces deal with family and first name and maiden name (Bajch), date & place of birth (12 July 1925 in Luzk); current address (1700 Harlem ave., Baltimore, MD. USA); (II. remarks on loss of freedom = "I was robbed of my freedom by way of: ghetto (Luzk, Poland, from August 1941 to November 1942), slave labour, altogether (15 months). III. 2) (statement under oath of proof shall be provided when required) IV. I apply for compensation for suffered loss of freedom for a total of (15) full months according to the ……. laws. Baltimore, MD, 19 April, 1950 [signed] Sonja Diment

Just like on my grandfather's application, this form states that she was in Lutsk Ghetto rather than Senkevychivka.  Again, I don't know why that contradicts what they said otherwise, although this was filled out by a third party.

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7 comments:

  1. my grandma also applied for reparations from germany - she lived in frankfurt - and i believe she got some money. ahy idea where i can look for her application?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can try requesting here:
      Bezirksregierung Dusseldorf
      Dezernat 15 (Bundeszentralkartei)
      Postfach 30 08 65
      40408 Dusseldorf
      Phone: +49 211 4753071 or +49 211 4753054
      Fax: +49 211 4753979
      Email: bzk@brd.nrw.de

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  2. Lara,

    I want to let you know that your blog post is listed in today's Fab Finds post at http://janasgenealogyandfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/2015/10/follow-friday-fab-finds-for-october-23.html

    Have a wonderful weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lara, Can you provide more information on how you got this record from Bavaria? I've examined many restitution files in Baden-Württemberg, but Bavaria has a 60 year limit on access to the files (as far as I know). When I was at the Munich archives a few years ago they said that this limit could be reduced if the records were needed for historical research (but not for genealogy). Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alex, This was my grandmother's copy; it was in her basement. So in this case no need to make a request from Germany. :)

      Delete
  4. Hello Lara,

    I have an important question about this image. Can you please write to me at the International Center for Transitional Justice? My email address is mbarges@gmail.com

    Thank you!

    Sincerely,
    Meredith

    ReplyDelete