Norway will pay $58 million in reparations to the country’s Jewish population and Holocaust victims’ heirs, as compensation for the seizure of their assets by Vidkan Quisling’s government. The king of Norway, and the Norwegian parliament gave final approval at the weekend to a law on the matter, the first of its kind in Europe.
According to the law, 450 million Norwegian Krone will be allocated for reparations, in two categories. Nkr. 200 million ($26 million) will be allocated for compensation to victims’ heirs for the seizure of their assets, at the maximum rate of Nkr. 200,000 ($26,000) per family. The balance, if any, will be redirected for general purposes, in addition to Nkr.250 million ($32 million).
The allocations for general purposes will partly be directed to strengthening Jewish culture in the country (Nkr.150 million - $19 million), assisting in strengthening Jewish culture outside of the country, via a fund headed by writer Eli Wiesel, (Nkr.60 million - $7.8 million), and establishing a center for Holocaust studies in Norway (Nkr. 40 million - $5.2 million).
The Norwegian Minister of Justice said at the weekend that Norway should take collective responsibility for its actions during World War II.
The World Jewish Congress attaches much importance to the Norwegian decision. A senior official of the organization told "Globes" it should be remembered that Norway is a country that had a small Jewish community, and the number of Holocaust victims totaled 730. The officials said that the proportionate size of the reparations Norway will pay is likely to serve as a yardstick for demands on other countries whose involvement in the Holocaust was much higher.
Published by Israel's Business Arena June 30, 1998