This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/06/world/europe/french-railway-sncf-to-pay-holocaust-survivors-over-deportations.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
French Railway, S.N.C.F., to Pay Holocaust Survivors Over Deportations France to Pay Holocaust Survivors Over Deportations
(about 1 hour later)
PARIS — The French state railway company, the S.N.C.F., agreed on Friday to compensate Holocaust victims who had been deported on its trains during World War II. PARIS — France agreed on Friday to compensate Holocaust victims who had been deported via its state railway during World War II.
Under the deal, negotiated by the United States and France, the railway will pay American and other Holocaust survivors out of a $60 million fund. In return, the United States is expected to help ease obstacles impeding the S.N.C.F. from participating in railway projects that had been held up by American lawmakers, survivors and their heirs as a way to press for a resolution of the compensation issue. Under the deal, negotiated by the United States and France, France will pay American and other Holocaust survivors out of a $60 million fund. In return, the United States is expected to help ease obstacles impeding the French national railway company, the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français, from participating in railway projects that had been held up by American lawmakers, survivors and their heirs as a way to press for a resolution of the compensation issue.
The agreement, which comes after years of litigation and negotiations, is expected to be signed on Monday by Patrizianna Sparacino-Thiellay, the French ambassador at large for human rights, in charge of Holocaust issues, and Stuart Eizenstat, the United States special adviser on Holocaust issues, Agence France-Presse reported. The agreement, which comes after years of litigation and negotiations, is expected to be signed on Monday by Patrizianna Sparacino-Thiellay, the French ambassador at large for human rights in charge of Holocaust issues, and Stuart Eizenstat, the United States special adviser on Holocaust issues, Agence France-Presse reported.
According to the news agency, Mr. Eizenstat said France would pay $60 million to the United States in a lump sum. The money is expected to be distributed to the several thousand survivors, family members and their heirs, officials said. The deal still needs approval by the French Parliament.According to the news agency, Mr. Eizenstat said France would pay $60 million to the United States in a lump sum. The money is expected to be distributed to the several thousand survivors, family members and their heirs, officials said. The deal still needs approval by the French Parliament.
Three years ago, the S.N.C.F., or Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français, formally apologized for transporting 76,000 European Jews to the French-German border in 76 cattle cars from 1941 to 1944. German trains later took the deportees to Nazi death camps. Three years ago, the railway, known as the S.N.C.F., formally apologized for transporting 76,000 European Jews to the French-German border in 76 cattle cars from 1941 to 1944. German trains later took the deportees to Nazi death camps.
The S.N.C.F. has previously made some efforts to grapple with its past, including signing a partnership with the Holocaust museum in Paris, the Shoah Memorial, in 2011 to develop joint school programs about World War II. It also previously opened an archive center in Le Mans and commissioned an independent 900-page report on the issue.The S.N.C.F. has previously made some efforts to grapple with its past, including signing a partnership with the Holocaust museum in Paris, the Shoah Memorial, in 2011 to develop joint school programs about World War II. It also previously opened an archive center in Le Mans and commissioned an independent 900-page report on the issue.
Some French historians have argued that the legal and political pressure exerted against the S.N.C.F. has been disproportional, given that the Nazis occupied France and the Germans co-opted French national institutions.Some French historians have argued that the legal and political pressure exerted against the S.N.C.F. has been disproportional, given that the Nazis occupied France and the Germans co-opted French national institutions.