Jewish family awarded £40m in Nazi compensation claim
The German government is considering whether to appeal a court ruling that awarded £40 million in compensation to the descendents of a Jewish family whose chain of 20 department stores in Saxony was seized by the Nazis.
Their review of options comes after a Berlin court awarded the substantial sum to the Jewish heirs of Schocken AG, which was set up in 1931 by Salman and Simon Schocken but which was taken in 1938.
The family had already been paid £12 million in compensation but had argued that this substantially undervalued the business. Last week, a judge agreed, after a 20-year legal pursuit by the family.
Family lawyer Bernd Wilhelm Schmitz said: “We are very happy to finally have the Jewish victims compensated after almost a quarter of a century of legal battles. This hasn’t been a case like any other, moving us very much on a personal level as well.”
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
