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Greece Seeks $305 Billion in WWII Reparations From Germany

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Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis arrives to present his ministry's new secretaries at a press conference in Athens on March 4, 2015.Louisa Gouliamaki—AFP/Getty Images
By Dan Kedmey

Greece released its first quantifiable demand for WWII reparations from Germany on Monday, estimating that the German government owed Greece 279 billion euros ($305 billion) in damages from the Nazi occupation of the country.

Deputy Finance Minister Dimitris Mardas announced the reparations figure during a parliamentary committee meeting on Monday, Reuters reports. The estimate includes looted national treasures and a 10.3 billion euro “occupation loan” that was extracted from the Bank of Greece during the 1940s occupation.

Germany has rejected Greece’s continuing claims for reparations, arguing that a previous payment in 1960 of 115 million deutschmarks settled its historic debts.

The demand comes as Greece has pressed for debt relief from the European Union and International Monetary Fund, which rescued the Greek government from insolvency in exchange for strict austerity measures.

[Reuters]

Behind the Picture: Joe Demler, WWII's 'Human Skeleton'

American Pvt. Joe Demler, photographed on the day that the notorious prison camp, Stalag 12-A in Limburg, Germany, was liberated by Allied troops, spring 1945.
American Pvt. Joe Demler, photographed on the day that the notorious prison camp, Stalag 12-A in Limburg, Germany, was liberated by Allied troops, spring 1945.John Florea—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Unidentified American prisoner in Stalag 12-A, Limburg, Germany, 1945.
Unidentified American prisoner in Stalag 12-A, Limburg, Germany, 1945.John Florea—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Joe Demler at the New York Historical Society on May 22, 2013.)
Joe Demler at the New York Historical Society on May 22, 2013.)Ben Gabbe/Getty Images

 

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