Abstract

Founded in 2000, the German Foundation “Remembrance, Responsibility and Future” is one of the largest transitional justice initiatives in history: in cooperation with its international partner organizations, it has to date paid over 4 billion euros to nearly 1.7 million survivors of forced labour during the Nazi Era. This volume provides an unparalleled look at the Foundation’s creation, operations, and prospects after nearly two decades of existence, with valuable insights not just for historians but for a range of scholars, professionals, and others involved in human rights and reconciliation efforts.

Constantin Goschler is a Professor of Modern History at the Ruhr-University Bochum whose main research interests are transitional justice, security and surveillance studies, and biopolitics. His publications include a number of books on the history of compensation for Nazi victims, among them Robbery and Restitution: The Conflict over Jewish Property in Europe (Berghahn 2007).

“This highly informative collection is very well executed, and it will be especially valuable for English readers. Its contributors have been careful to keep their analytical distance from the sponsoring organization, offering accounts of its work and results that are balanced and candid.” · Peter Hayes, Northwestern University

“One of the strengths of this volume is that it offers a wide range of information, analysis and insights with far-reaching implications not only for historical research, but also for future policy initiatives, thanks to the rare view it gives into the inner workings of the Foundation ‘Remembrance, Responsibility, and Future.’ Ultimately, the book makes a compelling case for the role professional historians can play beyond the academy.” · Elizabeth Vlossak, Brock University