Reperations Cannot Mend Human Injustices

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annexation of German territories, dismantling of German industries and intellectual property, and forced labor to the Allied Forces . To holocaust survivors, it came in the form of a monthly loss of life and health, and one-time loss of freedom and possessions or property pensions4. This idea of receiving absolution by simply paying off a wronged group of people is commendable in theory. However, many a times the monetary burden and economic repercussions that occur as a result of these financial remedies are overlooked. In the case of Germany, the first several years post World War II were of high impoverishment. Seven million forced laborers left for their own land, about the same time 14 million Germans came in from the East, living for years in dingy camps. In the West, farm production fell, food supplies were cut off, food shipments extorted from conquered lands ended which resulted in a constant state of food shortages, and the standard of living fell drastically . High inflation, which resulted from the high payouts indebted to other countries, made savings and debts lose 99% of their value5. It was not until the late 1950s that Germany managed to recuperate for their setbacks. This atonement might have aided in reconciling with mistreated parties, but in the end it was detrimental to the infrastructure of the country as a whole. The negative consequences that were trying to be avoided by paying repercussions occurred anyways. The necessity of recompensing is understood, but all available money and resources should have been put into rebuilding the nation first and then paying dues once matters were stable.

If an active government wants to make amends for past crimes committed against humanity, full recognition of wrongs committed and responsibility must be taken. It is unpractical to utilize financial remedies as a method to relieve injustices due to the overly complex algorithm of determining how the funds of reparations are to be collected and distributed, along with its possible repercussions. Repayment should be made in the proper treatment of those individuals and equal opportunity to achieve success in society, not by buying their silence.

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