German slave fund deadline passes

Slave labourers were used in some of Germany's biggest wartime companies

BERLIN, Germany -- The deadline for applications from Nazi-era slave labourers wanting compensation from Germany passes on Monday.

But a spokeswoman for the fund says late applications may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Administrators of the 10 billion mark ($4.5 billion) fund insist the vast bulk of valid applications have been lodged but victims' groups have called for an extension, arguing that some survivors might miss out after already waiting half a century

Fund spokeswoman Beatrice von Weizsaecker told The Associated Press: "We always try to interpret the law in a way favourable to the victims."

She said late applications could be considered for a variety of reasons from postal delays to applicants being in hospital.

The fund -- made up from government and industry money -- began payments in June after months of wrangling over protection for German firms from legal cases in the United States.

Parliament then voted to extend the original August deadline to December 31, giving people who had not yet applied more time to prepare their applications.

German officials say the payout process is expected to take until 2003 to complete.

More than one million elderly claimants living mostly in areas of former Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe are entitled to payments of up to 15,000 marks ($6,750) each.

Weizsaecker said the fund believes information on the fund has reached those entitled, and stressed that, although a few latecomers may be considered, "we have to make sure that applications aren't made improperly."

Monday was the deadline for simple applications -- such as a postcard, fax or e-mail -- to be filed. Claimants then have two to three months to supply documents showing their entitlement.