Aryanization

Linearization called the National Socialists a certain form of robbery to property and possession of a minority, the people of the Jewish faith, or derivatives of them, in the German Empire from 1933 to 1945 and all connected and occupied countries. This robbery was carried out for the benefit of individuals, the "Aryan " and called themselves the majority of the population belonged. To be distinguished from this deprivation in favor of individual people, the seizure and confiscation of all Jewish property in favor of the state, which took place partly in parallel with the linearization. Both - linearization and confiscation - were a step on the way to clear the way for the deportation of Jews to the extermination camps in the East. Both prey types were intrinsically that extra- laws and regulations have been adopted for them. So the predatory actions were mutated to statutory duties.

In a broader sense, the term has been extended to other areas, such as on the cultural life and referred to in this context, the expulsion or extermination of Jewish cultural workers and scientists.

History

From 1st January 1939 the German Jews were forbidden the operation of retail stores and craft shops as well as the provision of goods and services. Even before this Jewish business owner or property owner were put under pressure ( mainly public ), the business well below the current value to sell or transfer. Very often were about former co-owner or employees involved, or favored, used their connections to the NSDAP or Nazi organizations similar to private enrichment. In the fall of 1938, formerly of 100,000 farms Jewish owner, only 40,000 were in the hands of its rightful owner.

The Ordinance on the Elimination of Jews from German Economic Life November 12, 1938 joined seamlessly to the Kristallnacht of 9-10. November 1938 on; it was followed on 3 December 1938, the Regulation on the use of Jewish property. The remaining holdings of Jewish owners were so forcibly about is not new Jewish owners, or they have been resolved. The proceeds were doing confiscated in favor of the state. Jewelry, antiques and real estate had to be sold at prices far below market value. Jewish workers was terminated, the self-employed were subject to a far-reaching prohibition.

The largest share of stolen Jewish property took property from a residential and commercial buildings. A ( speculative ) profit that the buyer of a " aryanised " could land on reselling achieved in that the Jewish owners had that time, received only a fraction of the market value, was considered by Fritz Reinhardt as " linearization profit " from income tax exempt. The forced linearization of home ownership, however, was initially put on hold. In 1939 the pressure on selling Jewish land ownership, however, at the same time still living in Germany, Jews were deprived of the tenancy and they gradually trained in so-called Jewish homes, a preform of the ghetto. After the deportation of the remaining Jewish house property was nationalized. Houses that were formerly owned by Jewish families were now being used, among others, by the police and armed forces.

Companies were able to increase tremendously with the linearization their profit. Also state institutions such as auction houses, and especially museums were able to come to valuable items. The inventory of homes and apartments was offered the spot for days open for inspection and purchase.

Many companies and company shares were sold far below the commercial value. Some of them - such as the Hertie department store (formerly Hermann Tietz, the largest department store in Berlin ) - played an important role in the later years of building up the Federal Republic of Germany and saw the accused over and the " German economic miracle " was based in part on stolen values.

Significantly involved in the linearization in Germany included the company Dorotheum, Schenker and Hertie. Could benefit from the linearization also museums and government institutions such as the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Vienna Technical Museum, Albertina (Vienna), Austrian Gallery Belvedere, Austrian Museum of Ethnology.

Refund ( restitution ) after the Second World War

About the way of the return of assets that were the former owners deprived of 1933-1945, the four occupying powers could not agree. This was therefore regulated differently.

In the American zone of occupation this on November 10, 1947, the Act No. 59 of the military government was adopted ( Military Government Law No. 59). Thereafter, without limitation, all legal transactions were voidable where a predicament could not be excluded a priori. This included not only sales for which a clearly lower purchase price has been paid, but also all sales after September 15, 1935 - the date of entry into force of the Nuremberg Laws, even if a fair purchase price had been paid. Rights to unclaimed items (no legacy owners or more existing) of the Jewish organization JRSO ( Jewish Restitution Successor Organization ) were transferred. Did purchaser own the "Aryan", he had the operation, to acquire the site or the subject again. The previously purchase price paid was only partially reduced by rental or lease claims, devalued in the ratio of 1 to 10 ( DM exchange rate for RM), credited.

In the British and the French occupation zone later appeared similar provisions in force.

In the Soviet sphere of influence (DDR and territories ) the return of companies was incompatible with the planned socialization of private property. Also, compensation payments to western - enemy - abroad did not come into consideration. At most, in some cases, there was a return or compensation.

After the German reunification in 1990, but ( Property Act ) was then in the Act for the Settlement of Open Property Issues for a system of restitution to or inserted a compensation for the former Jewish owner ( § 1 para 6): "This law is in accordance with apply to pecuniary claims of citizens and associations who were persecuted during the period from 30 January 1933 to 8 May 1945 from racial, political, religious or ideological reasons and therefore have lost their assets due to forced selling, expropriation or otherwise. "

In Austria eight restitution laws have been enacted from 1946 to 1998.

Movies

• Michael Verhoeven (Director): Human error. Documentation, D, 90 min. Verhoeven's film shows the linearization crime in various forms from its inception at the tax records of those affected to the Abtransporten eg to Kaunas and Theresienstadt in the middle of an otherwise seemingly " normal" society. Showing staff continuity of the actors and the various approaches to the shared about 6 years ago, records held by the tax authorities.