International Law

Germany rejects Italy high court order to pay damages for WWII Nazi killings

By Handakte

The German Federal Foreign Office on Wednesday rejected a ruling by Italy’s highest court ordering Germany to pay damages to relatives of civilians killed in the town of Civitella during World War II. The Italian Court of Cassation on Tuesday awarded 1 million euros (US $1.3 million) to family members of some of the 203 civilians killed in the 1944 assault, which the German infantry carried out in response to an attack by Italian civilians.

Reacting to the court’s decision, a German Foreign Ministry spokesman said during a press conference that the award is unenforceable under the principle of state immunity. German lawyers have also argued that Germany paid compensation to Italy through a 1961 agreement. The Foreign Ministry spokesman would not say whether Germany would appeal the ruling to an international court.

AP has more. DPA has local coverage. (…)

Quelle: Jurist vom 23.10.2008

Dazu auch: Deutschland soll für Nazi-Massaker zahlen

Full post as published by Handakte WebLAWg on October 24, 2008 (boomark / email).