Wiedergutmachung (restoration, reparation) in Germany - An historical retrospective, 1945-2000

The policy of reparations and its implementation determine whether victims of National Socialist persecution have legitimate claims and who may legiti mately claim to be a victim. It deals especially with compensation for lost assets and property and compensation for loss of freedom, health and oppor tunity. Because the perpetrators' reign of terror extended beyond borders, 'Wiedergutmachung' has become an international issue and not remained a dom estic one. This essay traces the progress of 'Wiedergutmachung' in West Ger many, East Germany and, since 1990, unified Germany. First, how West German y dealt with 'Wiedergutmachung' from immediately after the war until unific ation is discussed. Then, the GDR's handling of reparations is compared to West Germany's. Finally, the essay endeavors to outline the progress that h as been made since the caesura of 1989/90 to the establishment of the found ation 'Erinnerung, Verantwortung, Zukunft'. Have these individual time peri ods left their mark on the face of 'Wiedergutmachung'? What are the reasons for the reparations issue having played such a significant political role during the 1990s? What conclusion can be drawn from the development of 'Wie dergutmachung' as a means for the German government and German society to c onfront its National Socialist past?