​B’nai B’rith has issued the following statement: 

B’nai B’rith praises the United States Department of State for authorizing a second-round filing period for French Holocaust victims, survivors and their families to obtain restitution as part of the U.S.-France Agreement compensation program. Claimants who missed the deadline the first time will be able to submit a claim until Jan. 20, 2017.

According to a statement released by the U.S. Department of State “Approximately 30 survivors of deportation and some surviving spouses have received payment or are about to receive payment. We have also begun making payments to heirs of survivors and surviving spouses who are no longer alive.”

In 2014, the U.S. Department of State signed a restitution deal that made $60 million available to victims or heirs of victims who were deported from France to concentration camps by the National Society of French Railways (SNCF). B’nai B’rith attended this historic signing ceremony. 

SNCF transferred more than 70,000 Jews to concentration camps. Only about 2,000 of those victims survived the Holocaust. While most deportees living in France were already eligible for compensation, those in the United States and around the world have sought redress for years.  

Second-round submissions must be postmarked by Jan. 20, 2017 to receive consideration. Submissions may be emailed to DeportationClaims@state.gov, faxed to 202-776-8389, or mailed to:

Office of the Legal Adviser
International Claims and Investment Disputes
Suite 203, South Building
2430 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037-2800

Click here for more information.