The podcast “The German Wiedergutmachung” focuses on the question if and how people persecuted by the National Socialist regime and their descendant received compensation and were given back their former property. This procedure has been described by the term “Wiedergutmachung” – well aware of the fact, that the Nazi crimes and terror will never be “good again”.

The podcast examines the German government’s efforts to take (material) responsibility for crimes committed by the National Socialist regime and brings the history of Wiedergutmachung back to life. Great interview partners from the academic sphere and from society, along with fascinating documents kept by the Federal Archives unveil the multiple facets of Wiedergutmachung and let the listeners experience the fates of the victims.

The first three episodes take a closer look on restitution claims for seized property, on agreements to compensate Nazi persecutees in Western Europe and on the belated Wiedergutmachung for persecuted Sinti and Roma as an example of the so-called “forgotten victims”.

“The German Wiedergutmachung” is a production for the Online Collection “Wiedergutmachung for National Socialist Injustice” – a digital research platform for Wiedergutmachung records. It has been realized on behalf of the Federal Archives by “Escucha – Kultur fürs Ohr” and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Finance.