SNCF Compensation for U.S. Holocaust Victims

In 2011 Congresswoman Maloney introduced the Holocaust Rail Justice Act. This legislation allowed Holocaust survivors and their families, who suffered death or injury while being transported to concentration camps on the national French-owned Rail line (SNCF) between 1942 and 1944, to seek justice from SNCF in U.S. courts. This important legislation sparked negotiations in 2015 between France and the U.S. State Department, which led to a historic settlement for these Holocaust victims.

The French government has approved a transfer of $60 million to the U.S. State Department to be used for the compensation program for individuals who were deported by the SNCF-operated railroad to death camps during World War II. This compensation program will also cover spouses of deported individuals and heirs to their estates. The State Department is currently accepting claims applications, and will begin making payments to eligible claimants after November 30, 2015. The filing deadline for the program is May 31, 2016.

For detailed information on this program and to access a claims application, you can visit www.state.gov/deportationclaims. You may also contact the State Department at (202) 776-8389 with any questions about the application process and eligibility for compensation.