the luxembourg agreement of september 10th 1952
A major piece of history took place in Luxembourg City Hall in the early morning hours of September 10th 1952. A small group of German, Israeli and international Jewish delegates – including Chancellor Konrad Adenauer of Germany and Moshe Sharett – ( Minister of Foreign affairs of the State of Israel representing Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion) had gathered and sat in silence on opposite sides of a long table. They were there to sign some documentation that had been prepared. There were no fanfares for the event: no speeches were allowed, and no introductions made. A few journalists had been made aware of the meeting only 45 minutes beforehand, and it is not clear that they knew what they would indeed witness. Their only record was photographic. All was done in utmost secrecy, and the meeting itself only lasted 13 minutes. No crowds had gathered afterwards to witness what was an amazing piece of reconciliation history which had indeed nothing to do with Luxembourg itself. The Duchy had been chosen purely as neutral territory. After the meeting was over and the Ministers had spent a short time relaxing together, it is reported Adenauer took a short walk and spent a long period praying at Luxembourg’s Cathedral of Notre Dame.
A major piece of history took place in Luxembourg City Hall in the early morning hours of September 10th 1952. A small group of German, Israeli and international Jewish delegates – including Chancellor Konrad Adenauer of Germany and Moshe Sharett – ( Minister of Foreign affairs of the State of Israel representing Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion) had gathered and sat in silence on opposite sides of a long table. They were there to sign some documentation that had been prepared. There were no fanfares for the event: no speeches were allowed, and no introductions made. A few journalists had been made aware of the meeting only 45 minutes beforehand, and it is not clear that they knew what they would indeed witness. Their only record was photographic. All was done in utmost secrecy, and the meeting itself only lasted 13 minutes. No crowds had gathered afterwards to witness what was an amazing piece of reconciliation history which had indeed nothing to do with Luxembourg itself. The Duchy had been chosen purely as neutral territory. After the meeting was over and the Ministers had spent a short time relaxing together, it is reported Adenauer took a short walk and spent a long period praying at Luxembourg’s Cathedral of Notre Dame.
L.-R. Adenauer signs Luxembourg Agreement. Israeli and German Delegates, Moshe Sharett signing Agreement
reconciliation and restitution
What was happening inside the Hall was probably in its own way as significant as the fall of the Berlin Wall many years later. This was not the fall of a physical wall, but an attempt to break a wall of deep mistrust between two peoples and to bring reconciliation between the Jews and the new State of Israel, and the country that had caused them the distress that led to the tragedy of the Shoah, the country of Germany.
adenauer and ben gurion and the luxembourg agreement
The delegates had gathered to sign what was to become known as the Luxembourg Agreement. This was just seven years after the end of World War 2, and less than four years after the founding of the State of Israel in 1948. At this time, Israel and West Germany had not actually recognized each other and thus had no diplomatic relations or exchange of Embassies. These nations had never been at war meriting some type of post conflict compensation. They had gathered together to sign documentation for reparations of goods and services to Israel to the value of 3.5 billion German Marks over a period of 12 years with an additional sum of 450 million marks for individual Jewish people for their losses in the war. By the time of the fulfillment of the agreement, it was estimated that the total sum would be closer to 50-60 billion Marks[1]. There was no legal requirement for this agreement to be signed, however ,it was a moral agreement forged by two statesmen, Adenauer and Ben Gurion, who wished to work for reconciliation between the two countries after the tragedy of World War 2 and the Holocaust.
[1] Goldmann, Nahum The autobiography of Nahum Goldmann Sixty Years of Jewish Life Holt Rinehart and Winston. NY 1969 p. 280
[1] Goldmann, Nahum The autobiography of Nahum Goldmann Sixty Years of Jewish Life Holt Rinehart and Winston. NY 1969 p. 280
Adenauer and Ben Gurion meet in Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York in 1960
Konrad Adenauer had himself suffered under the Nazi regime, had been imprisoned and was in danger of his life on several occasions. Polish born David Ben-Gurion was the founding Prime Minister of the fledgling Israel and was desperate for funds and supplies to cater for the vast influx of refugees from Europe who had arrived in Israel since the end of the war. Since its founding in 1948, with a population of 600,000, the population of Israel had swollen to 1.2 million by 1951.[1] As neither the United States, England or France could help with this growing problem, Ben Gurion decided to approach the newly formed Government of West Germany with his appeal.
[1] Wolffsohn, Michael Eternal Guilt? 40 years of German-Jewish-Israeli relations. Columbia University Press. NY 1993 p.124
[1] Wolffsohn, Michael Eternal Guilt? 40 years of German-Jewish-Israeli relations. Columbia University Press. NY 1993 p.124
Refugees arriving in Israel by land, sea and air from Europe and Africa
He chose as his representative Nahum Goldman, Founder and long-time President of the World Jewish Congress, to process this claim and to approach the German Government. In advance of any meeting, Goldmann communicated with Adenauer ,asking him to recognize in advance responsibility for the crimes of the National Socialist Government in the name of the Federal Republic, and to invite both Israel and World Jewry to agree on some type of restitution.
letter of chancellor adenauer recognising german responsibility
Letter of Chancellor Adenauer to Nahum Goldmann German version
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Letter of Chancellor Adenauer to Nahum Goldmann Translation
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Meeting of bundestag september 27th 1951
 Adenauer adressing the Bundestag September 1951
Adenauer agreed to this gesture and Goldmann was asked to approve a statement that Adenauer prepared to deliver to the Bundestag. On September 27th 1951 he read the following to the assembled Bundestag parliament:
‘The Federal Government is ready to work in conjunction with the representatives of Jewry and the States of Israel which has given shelter to so many homeless Jewish refugees, a solution of the problem of material restitution and compensation, and thus to clear the way toward a spiritual healing of this immense suffering. The Federal Government is convinced that the spirit of true humanity must again become a living and fruitful force, and it regards it as the foremost duty of the German people to serve the spirit with all its strength’. It received nearly unanimous endorsement as the gathering rose to their feet to show respect for the Jewish victims who had perished in the holocaust.[1] [1] It is noted that several members of the Bundestag did not support the motion, namely the Communist Party and some members of the extreme right. Information supplied by Sr E.P. |
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the claims conference
Early claims conference at the State Department in Washington with Nahum Goldmann
To prepare for any restitution payments from Germany, Goldmann decided to bring together in New York leaders from twenty two of the largest Jewish organizations from across the world, from the US, England, Canada, Australia, South Africa, France and Argentina, a body that he hoped the German representatives would then respect. Having achieved this, the path was then open for Goldmann to meet with Adenauer and to present his claims and those of the State of Israel and the organizations representing the Jewish Diaspora.
goldmann meeting with adenauer in london december 6th 1951
Nahum Goldmann and Adenauer
Goldmann relates :
‘I emphasized that whatever German did could be no more than a gesture. Nothing could all the dead to life again: nothing could obliterate the crimes, but a symbolic gesture would have a deep meaning. The coming negotiations, I said, were unique in nature. They had no legal basis; they were backed by no political power: their meaning was purely an ethical one’. [1]
Goldmann found in Adenauer a 'listening ear'. He responded by saying that ‘he felt the wings of world history beating in the room’. He reiterated that his desire for restitution was genuine and would be a debt of honor for the new Germany. Following the meeting at Adenuaer’s request, Goldmann drafted an initial letter approving reparations which then Adenuaer duly signed.
[1] Nahum Goldmann op.cit p.259
‘I emphasized that whatever German did could be no more than a gesture. Nothing could all the dead to life again: nothing could obliterate the crimes, but a symbolic gesture would have a deep meaning. The coming negotiations, I said, were unique in nature. They had no legal basis; they were backed by no political power: their meaning was purely an ethical one’. [1]
Goldmann found in Adenauer a 'listening ear'. He responded by saying that ‘he felt the wings of world history beating in the room’. He reiterated that his desire for restitution was genuine and would be a debt of honor for the new Germany. Following the meeting at Adenuaer’s request, Goldmann drafted an initial letter approving reparations which then Adenuaer duly signed.
[1] Nahum Goldmann op.cit p.259
opposition in israel rally in jerusalem january 7 1952
Menachem Begin mounts a rally against the Luxembourg agreement in Jerusalem
It took less than a year for the agreement to be drawn up to be presented for signatures in Luxembourg that day. It was not immediately well received by either country: Germany, many said, could ill afford such compensation while seeking to rebuild its own ruined national infrastructure after the war and to house its own refugees from the former German territories of Eastern Europe. Ben Gurion faced great opposition for what some regarded as ‘blood money’ for the lives of the victims of the holocaust. His greatest opponent Manachem Begin mounted a forceful opposition to the deal saying a rally on January 7 1952, “There is no German who did not murder our parents … Every German is a murderer. Adenauer is a murderer.[1]
[1] Wolffsohn p. 125
[1] Wolffsohn p. 125
the message of scripture
A portion of the Book of Ezekiel
To those in Israel who could not accept the new Germany Ben Gurion stated quoting scripture:
‘My opinion of today’s German has not changed. Nazi Germany no longer exists. Our religion teaches us ‘the Fathers should not die for the sins of children, not the children for the sins of their fathers’[1]
[1] Deuteronomy 24:16 and Ezekiel 18:20
‘My opinion of today’s German has not changed. Nazi Germany no longer exists. Our religion teaches us ‘the Fathers should not die for the sins of children, not the children for the sins of their fathers’[1]
[1] Deuteronomy 24:16 and Ezekiel 18:20
the restitution payments
The restitution payments that followed the agreement soon constituted part of the backbone of the Israeli economy. The payments continued through wars and upheavals without interruption until their completion. Adenauer for his part regarded the Luxembourg Agreement as an event ‘no less important for Germany’s future than the restorations of German sovereignty.[1]
[1] Nahum Goldmann op.cit p.272
[1] Nahum Goldmann op.cit p.272
two miracles
David Ben Gurion, First Prime Minister of Israel 1886-1973
To Goldmann, the primary architect of the accord Ben Gurion said:
‘You and I have had the good fortune to see two miracles come to pass ‘the creation of the State of Israel and the signing of the agreement with Germany. I was responsible for the first and you for the second. The only difference is that I always had faith in the first miracle, but I didn’t believe in the second one until the very last minute.[1]
[1] Nahum Goldmann op.cit p.275
‘You and I have had the good fortune to see two miracles come to pass ‘the creation of the State of Israel and the signing of the agreement with Germany. I was responsible for the first and you for the second. The only difference is that I always had faith in the first miracle, but I didn’t believe in the second one until the very last minute.[1]
[1] Nahum Goldmann op.cit p.275
the legacy of the luxembourg agreement
Israel and Germany established diplomatic relations on May 12th 1965, and it is estimated that up to 10,000 Israelis live now in Berlin. According to Wikipedia, Germany is Israel’s largest trading partner in Europe and second only to the US globally.[1] None of this would have happened if those delegates did not rise early to sign in relative secrecy the Luxembourg Agreement on that day in September 10th 1952.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany%E2%80%93Israel_relations#Trade
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany%E2%80%93Israel_relations#Trade
Adenauer and Ben Gurion in Israel
. Picture Credits :
Luxembourg Town Hall: Wikipedia: Reparations Agreement Document web.nli.org.il Luxembourg Agreement photos World Jewish Congress: Berlin Wall boston.com Children of Holocaust Wikipedia : Israel News mfa.il Adenauer and Ben Gurion juedische-allgemeine.de Ben Gurion: Wikipedia Begin Demonstration Artsandculture.google.com Refugees Wikipedia Israeled.org: myjewishlearning: Goldmann : Amazon: Adenauer in Bundestag deutschalndfunkkultur.de: Claims Conference: Claimscon.org Adenauer and Goldmann: Israel.ed.org: Adenauer and Ben Gurion Haaretz.com Letter of Adenauer to Goldmann German and English Versions courtesy of The Central Zionist Archives Z6\6000.
Luxembourg Town Hall: Wikipedia: Reparations Agreement Document web.nli.org.il Luxembourg Agreement photos World Jewish Congress: Berlin Wall boston.com Children of Holocaust Wikipedia : Israel News mfa.il Adenauer and Ben Gurion juedische-allgemeine.de Ben Gurion: Wikipedia Begin Demonstration Artsandculture.google.com Refugees Wikipedia Israeled.org: myjewishlearning: Goldmann : Amazon: Adenauer in Bundestag deutschalndfunkkultur.de: Claims Conference: Claimscon.org Adenauer and Goldmann: Israel.ed.org: Adenauer and Ben Gurion Haaretz.com Letter of Adenauer to Goldmann German and English Versions courtesy of The Central Zionist Archives Z6\6000.