Here you will find descriptions of a range of terms, events, themes and institutions featured on the website.
Federal Compensation Law
Between 1953 and 1969 people who had been persecuted under National Socialism could claim financial »compensation« on the basis of the Federal Compensation Law (BEG) enacted by the West German government. People who had been persecuted on »political, racial, religious or ideological grounds« were eligible to make a claim. However, the provisions excluded many people who had been persecuted, including homosexuals, forced labourers, Roma and Sinti, but also »asocials« and »career criminals«.
After the war various regulations were implemented to compensate people persecuted under National Socialism. West Germany introduced the Federal Compensation Law (BEG) regulating compensation payments and pensions. In East Germany survivors received money and material assistance from the »committees for the victims of fascism«. In Austria potential claims were regulated by the Victims Welfare Act. In all three states people persecuted as »asocials« and »career criminals« remained ineligible for compensation for decades.
Female criminal police
The female criminal investigation department was a distinct branch of the Criminal Police tasked with prosecuting offences involving minors. Female officers were expected to combine both welfare and policing roles. During the National Socialist era, the department targeted youths deemed deviant and women accused of prostitution. As a tool of terror, it oversaw youth concentration camps.
The Criminal Police (Kriminalpolizei, »Kripo«) is a regular police division in charge of investigating crimes. In the National Socialist state its tasks additionally included the surveillance and persecution of »community aliens« (»Gemeinschaftsfremde«). People deemed »career criminals« or »asocials« by the Criminal Police were placed under systematic surveillance and were detained indefinitely.
It was up to police officers to decide what was to be considered »asocial behaviour«: the slightest deviation from the norm could lead to imprisonment.
Forced sterilisation
During the National Socialist period doctors forcibly sterilised around 400,000 people. The Nazis considered mental and physical traits to be hereditary. For this reason, they took action against people they considered »inferior«; these people were to be prevented from having children. Around 5,000 people died as a result of this medical procedure; others were later murdered in clinics. Hundreds of thousands remained childless due to this state-organised measure.
Forced sterilisation
During the National Socialist period doctors forcibly sterilised around 400,000 people. The Nazis considered mental and physical traits to be hereditary. For this reason, they took action against people they considered »inferior«; these people were to be prevented from having children. Around 5,000 people died as a result of this medical procedure; others were later murdered in clinics. Hundreds of thousands remained childless due to this state-organised measure.