Compensation schemes for confiscated Second World War assets to end

After nearly a quarter of a century, the government has announced the end of two schemes aimed at compensating people who had assets confiscated during the Second World War.

The two funds, the Enemy Property and the Baltic States Schemes, were set up by Tony Blair’s government in 1999, after it became clear that property and assets seized under the 1939 Trading With the Enemy Act had not been returned to their owners, or their heirs.

Lord Archer of Sandwell, once the attorney-general, made the initial recommendations to set up the schemes and chaired the assessment panel which decided on the success or failure of a claim for the first 12 years.

Under the Trading with the Enemy Act 1939, the UK government confiscated assets in British territories owned by residents of enemy countries during World War II. This included residents of the former Nazi Germany, Italy and Japan and countries occupied by them.

Now, after more than £23 million has been paid out to successful claimants, the government says the schemes are coming to a natural end. Originally the schemes were going to close in 2004, but there was a stay of execution. The panel, chaired by Arthur Harverd, has been compensating individuals who suffered Nazi persecution and had their assets confiscated. The panel also oversaw the Baltic States Scheme, which compensates asset owners who resided in Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania.

The government has now declared that all final claims under the two schemes must be made by no later than March 31 2023. Individuals who believe that they, or a direct relation, may have held or deposited assets in the UK that were then confiscated by the UK government, are encouraged to contact the EPCAP Secretariat.