They support the forgotten victims of the Nazi -regime. 1.120 people received financial aid form the foundation up to now. Now the foundation can celebrate ist 10th anniversary and has paid nearly 12 millions DM of compensation during this period.
The recipients are people who were persecuted because of their political opinion, racial descent, sickness or a handicap. Since 1970 they could no longer apply for compensation. In September 1988 the foundation was founded in Hamburg for those people who did not get any compensation.
The foundation regularly pays amounts between 250 and 650 DM per month or like in most of the cases a single aid of 6.500 DM maximum. These payments are voluntary. President Gerhard Wundermacher says „We consider each personal situation and what one has gone through".
The board of directors has 11 members. They respresent the Jewish community, the Roma and Cinti organization and associations of political persecutors. Most of the decisions are made unanimously. The examination of an application takes about six months on average. At present the foundation pays out approx. 100.000 DM per month. Due to Wundermacher there is still some money left for the time being. The Hamburg senat placed 20 millions DM at the disposal of the foundation ten years ago.
At present the biggest group with 377 people are Jewis immigrants from the former Sovjet union. Also 240 Roma and Cinti and 81 former forced labourers gained redress. To get financial aid one must be living in Hamburg for at least two years.
There is only one similar institution existing in Berlin. Social senator Karin Roth (SPD) of Hamburg said on occasion of the anniversary: „Hamburg has pointed the way to the future with this foundation. It makes an indispesable contribution to understanding and reconciliation with the victims of the Nazi regime. It is also a sign that injustice never comes under the statute of limitations."