Holocaust Rail Justice Act Would Allow American Survivors & Relatives to Pursue Justice Against French Rail Company

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that next week the State Department will officially begin accepting applications for restitution from Holocaust victims and family members of those who were deported from Nazi-occupied France during World War II. The agreement comes into force on November 1st and starting November 3rd, applications will be accepted via an online portal. Societé Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais (SNCF) is the French rail company that transported tens of thousands of Holocaust victims to concentration camps during the Second World War. For more than ten years, hundreds of survivors and family members have attempted to hold SNCF accountable for its role in the Holocaust, however, using legal duplicity the company has dodged responsibility for its collaboration with the Nazi-regime. Schumer has long advocated on behalf of these survivors and family members. In fact, Schumer was a sponsor of the Holocaust Rail Justice Act, which would make SNCF culpable to American courts and allow American victims to pursue avenues of justice against the rail company. Under the agreement, France is providing a lump sum payment of $60 million to the United States for eligible claimants. The U.S. State Department will administer the program for all eligible applicants worldwide.

"For decades, survivors and family members of those who perished have attempted to hold SNCF accountable for its active role during the Holocaust, however, it has continued to dodge responsibility for its collaboration with the Nazi regime. Next week, the State Department will begin accepting restitution applications from eligible survivors and their family members, which means that the French rail company will finally be held accountable for transporting thousands to their death during World War II," said Senator Schumer.

Source