“Extraordinary Gesture Payment” for 3,300 Nazi Victims from Austria

The National Fund of the Republic of Austria has made a renewed gesture payment to over 3,300 Holocaust survivors from Austria living in 40 countries worldwide.

One year ago, on 20 September 2023, the Austrian Federal Government decided to provide additional support to all living victims of National Socialism from Austria, reaffirming Austria’s special responsibility towards those persecuted by the Nazi regime. Among other things, the Austrian Federal Government’s resolution provided for a one-off extraordinary gesture payment of around 5,000 euros each to all victims of National Socialism from Austria officially recognised as such under National Fund criteria.

The National Fund was entrusted with implementing the scheme and has all but completed the disbursement process. Over 3,300 victims of National Socialism have received an extraordinary gesture payment. The beneficiaries are living in 40 countries worldwide, most of them in Austria, followed by the USA, Israel, Great Britain, Australia, Canada and France.

The National Fund contacted the people entitled to the payment and obtained from them and verified the necessary personal information and a current proof of life certificate, in order to ensure that the payments could be made as quickly as possible to the elderly survivors. In the few cases in which the beneficiaries passed away after the cut-off date – the date of the Council of Ministers’ resolution on 20 September 2023 – the gesture payment will be made to the heirs. In total, the National Fund has distributed 16.9 million euros in the form of the extraordinary gesture payment.

National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka on the payment: “As Chairman of the National Fund, I am particularly pleased that the Federal Government decided one year ago to once again provide assistance to the survivors of National Socialism from Austria. The people who suffered persecution at the hands of the Nazis for a wide variety of reasons are at the very heart of the work of the National Fund. Austria is highly aware of its responsibility towards the victims of National Socialism. This renewed support is a decisive step that demonstrates that we as a society are determined not to suppress the darkest chapter of our history, but to actively remember it. Especially in times when antisemitism is on the increase worldwide, it is more important than ever to listen to the survivors and stand up to our responsibility.”

Hannah Lessing, on behalf of the Board of the National Fund: “I am delighted that the Austrian Federal Government has given the National Fund the opportunity to once again make a gesture of recognition to all victims of National Socialism from Austria. In view of the age of the people concerned, who are often living in difficult circumstances, this help is particularly valuable.”

Additional payments in cases of special need

The Federal Government’s resolution also enabled the National Fund to step up the payments made to needy survivors. People who have already received a gesture payment can apply to the National Fund for an additional payment if they are in particular need of extra assistance or if support appears warranted due to their circumstances. Since 2023, additional payments of 700,000 euros have been made to victims of National Socialism in cases of special need.

Providing recognition and support to the victims through the gesture payment for almost 30 years

Since it was established in 1995, the National Fund has been making payments to survivors from Austria, regardless of why they were persecuted – be it on political grounds, on grounds of origin, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, due to a physical or mental disability, due to accusations of antisocial behaviour or because they were victims of some other form of injustice typical of the Nazi regime.

Official recognition of the status as a victim of National Socialism takes the form of a symbolic payment, the so-called gesture payment in the amount of 5,087.10 euros (originally 70,000 shillings) per person. Since 1995, over 30,000 people worldwide have received a gesture payment from the National Fund. In total, including the extraordinary gesture payment, around 171.2 million euros have been distributed to entitled persons. Moreover, additional support has been provided to needy survivors to the tune of 4.6 million euros.

Further information can be found at: https://www.nationalfonds.org/gesture-payment