Language:
French
Year of publication:
2012
Titel der Quelle:
Tsafon; revue d'études juives du Nord
Angaben zur Quelle:
5 hors série (2012) 101-115
Keywords:
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
;
Jewish property
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
Abstract:
Discusses the specifics of Nazi despoilment of the Jews in Belgium during the Shoah. Belgium was placed under German military rule (AM) and Belgian authorities, which were left in place, often refused to collaborate. The Belgian legal system adopted some procedures that slowed down Aryanization. In order to conform with Belgian legislation, the AM limited the scope of its actions. Movable Jewish and enemy property was controlled and managed by Brüsseler Treuhandgesellschaft (BTG), created in 1940 as a Belgian trust company. This prevented the Germans from using profits for their own benefit. The same was the case with the company set up to manage Jewish real estate, with the exception of Antwerp. Of the 55,600 Jews over the age of 15 living in Belgium in 1940, 93% were of foreign nationality, a fact which also affected the nature of the despoilment. Contrary to German wishes, Aryanization was introduced in stages and through German, not Belgian orders, from May 1941 on. Attempts to centralize Jewish assets at the Société française de Banque et de Dépôts largely failed, due to the refusal of other banks to denounce their Jewish clients or transfer their assets. Almost all Jewish enterprises (7,700 in total) and real estate properties were identified; other assets remained partly undiscovered. The economic stability of the Jewish population was, however, systematically destroyed. Despoilment of furniture, household equipment, and artworks proved especially efficient.
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