Important Note: This list was created about 2005 and does not represent the current status 

We suggest you contact the Claims Conference at http://www.claimscon.org/ if there is an entry of interest.






Below is a database of 50,000 Holocaust-era Jewish names. If you recognize the name of a relative, you or someone in your family may be an heir to unclaimed Holocaust-era assets.

The database comes from two sources. One is the list of unclaimed Swiss bank accounts released by the Swiss government. They are identified with a Code of "S". These names usually include the city and country where the account was opened.

The second list comes from a collection at the Austrian State Archives in Vienna. They are identified with a Code of "A". The Austrian files include ALL assets, including possible Swiss bank accounts, as well as insurance policies and other holdings. When the Germans occupied Vienna in 1938, they required all Jewish residents to complete a detailed declaration of valuables, including bank accounts, insurance policies, real estate, art, etc. These declarations are the files held in the archives in Vienna. Our source provides only given name, family name and date of birth.

Swiss Banks
Almost any Jew (or their heirs) who lost assets or suffered during World War II may have a claim to the $1.25 billion compensation fund established by the Swiss banks.

Potential categories of claims include:

  1. Those with Swiss bank accounts
  2. Individuals who had valuables that the Germans looted or removed during World War II--in any country
  3. Those forced into slave labor
  4. Those who fled the Germans but were turned away at the Swiss border or mistreated after entering Switzerland

For details on how to register a claim. go to http://www.swissbankclaims.com.

Austrian Archives
NOTE: Those with Austrian files should also fill out the Swiss bank registration. Until files are retrieved from the Austrian archives and examined, there is no way to know if a Swiss bank account was part of the holdings. Even those without Swiss bank accounts may be eligible for compensation under one of the other categories.

At this time, there are only two mechanisms for possibly retrieving assets of individuals in this database. One is the class action lawsuit against the Swiss banks. In addition, if the relative had life insurance, as many did, it may be possible to recover the current value of the policy. Additional information about life insurance policies can be found at
www.ICHEIC.org.


The first step is to obtain a copy of the file. A sample letter and the address is found below.

Sample Letter to Austrian Archives
Below is a sample letter that may be used to request a file:

Oesterreichisches Staatsarchiv
Nottendorfergasse 2
A-1030 Wien, Austria
Re: Quellen Zur Wirtschaftlichen Entrechtung Der Wiener Juden Durch Die NS-Vermogensverkehrstelle Dear Sir/Madame;

I am writing on behalf of [name] who is a surviving heir of the individual(s) listed below. We have been informed that their [his/her] assets are listed in the files of the Vermogensverkehrstelle of the Ministerium fur Handel und Verkehr and that these files are now in the possession of the Archiv der Republik.

Kindly send copies of the files of the following individuals to the address that appears on this letterhead:

[List given name, last name and date of birth of each individual]


If you have any questions or require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me at the telephone number or address listed above.
Sincerely,

Sample Entry

Surname, Given Name            Birth Date             Code   Town, Country

Haag, Marie Albertine               24.09.1914                S         Ingwiller, France

Click appropriate letter to retrieve the portion of the database containing surnames which begin with the letter shown.

A Ba Bl C D E F G H I J Ka Ko L M N O P Q R Sa Sh T U V W X Y Z

If you find a name that matches the first name, last name of your relative, and can identify a matching birthdate, you have located your relative on the index.


Terms and Conditions
In using the LivingHeirs site, you, the user, confirm that you understand and agree to the following.

This site is produced and hosted by Avotaynu, Inc. as a public service. In using this site, you understand that that use is "as is", with no warranty of any kind from Avotaynu, Inc to you, expressed or implied, concerning this site or any site to which you may link from this site. Avotaynu, Inc. reserves the right to change or remove any site element or functionality or to discontinue the site completely at any time and without notice.

Should you link from this site to another site, the user agreement, privacy statement and other conditions applicable to that site will govern your use of that site.


Additional Links
Click here for help from Avotaynu if you have questions that can be answered by e-mail.

Click here for information on how to locate documentation about the fate of Holocaust victims or locate survivors.

Getting started tracing your Jewish family history? Avotaynu has a five-minute
guide to Jewish genealogy research.

Click here to learn more about Avotaynu's role in this project.

Avotaynu Home Page


Acknowledgements
Avotaynu would like to thank the following persons who participated in computerizing these lists: Especially Michael Radel of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Philadelphia who coordinated the volunteer effort and developed the database. Also Robert Wascou, president of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Sacramento. Also members of the Tiferet Bet Israel Men's Club of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania; Ginny Atkins, Ormond Beach, Florida; Bernie Buckwalter, San Luis Obispo Genealogical Society; Bob Factor, Newtown, Pennsylvania; Barbara Parsons, Crossville, Tennessee; Carol Rapaport, Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Jacob Slabiak of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Sacramento; and Dottie Woods of the Sacramento Genealogical Society.

Web Author: Michael Tobias