There are six recipients for the controversial "Nazi pension" in Luxembourg, as confirmed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean Asselborn some months ago.
Relatively little is known about these pensions, which have been the object of speculation since the information was revealed. On Monday, RTL 5Minutes met with Dr Christophe Brüll, specialist in bilateral relations with Germany and assistant professor at the University with Luxembourg, to shed light on the matter.
First of all, Dr Brüll wished to make it clear that these are not pensions as such, but allowances; a form of compensation for victims of bodily injury linked to the Second World War, which could equally concern collaborators and civilians. These allowances have a legislative background in the 1950 Federal Supply Act.
As the law does not just apply to those with German nationality, Dr Brüll said it was feasible that collaborators could receive the allowance, but in general it is not a case of rewarding collaboration, instead accounting for physical injury. Recipients will have had to prove their link to the Second World War and provide medical certificates confirming any injuries.
The historian is currently investigating how foreigners receiving the allowance were made aware they were entitled to compensation.
In Belgium, Dr Brüll said some Flemish nationalist politicians had made the necessary arrangements for a number of people, whereas in Luxembourg the process was unclear. He said in order to access the allowance, a request must be made.
Dr Brüll said the identities of those people receiving the allowance were unknown. One hundred years must elapse in principle before the information is made available for research purposes.
More than 2,000 people across Europe currently receive this allowance, in Switzerland and Poland among others.
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