EVZ – Remembrance, Responsibility, Future

The history of Nazi forced labor has become particularly explosive in economic, social and foreign policy terms as a result of the debates about compensation since the end of the 1990s and the threat of class action lawsuits against German companies in the USA. The Foundation “Remembrance, Responsibility and Future” (EVZ – “Erinnerung, Verantwortung und Zukunft”) was established in 2000 after tough negotiations with companies and government representatives to handle compensation payments. Over 1.66 million people in almost 100 countries received a total of 4.4 billion euros. The funds were distributed with the help of various international partner organizations. For many former forced laborers, however, the payments came too late; they had died. In addition, tens of thousands of them lacked the necessary evidence to claim compensation. The disbursement programs were completed in 2007. Some groups, such as the “Italian military internees,” remained excluded from compensation.