Higher compensation for those forcibly resettled: 7,500 euros from July 2025!

Higher compensation for those forcibly resettled: 7,500 euros from July 2025!

On July 2, 2025, a decisive step was taken in coming to terms with GDR history: those affected by forced evacuation on the former inner-German border are entitled to a one-off payment of 7,500 euros. This was made possible by a change in the law that the Bundestag passed unanimously on January 30th. The new regulations to improve rehabilitation matters will come into force on July 1, 2025. State Secretary Burkhard Bley emphasized that this step is an important signal for the victims of the SED regime, who have suffered serious injustice for decades.

However, this decision was by no means taken lightly. The forced deportations, which took place primarily in the 1950s, affected more than 12,000 people. Many families were torn from their homes and had to rearrange their lives, often within just a few hours. A particularly impressive example is Inge Jakobs, who was forcibly relocated from Böckwitz with her family and still vividly remembers the shocking events at the breakfast table. Her family was sent into the unknown under the pretext of an “extremely reactionary attitude.” After a long and arduous journey through various camps, she now lives in Zicherie, Lower Saxony, and is actively continuing the legacy of her past in a museum association.

The path to compensation

The one-off payment can be requested from July 2025 and is part of comprehensive measures that also provide for the increase in victim pensions and the maintenance of the annual adjustment. The tracking time for applications has been shortened to two years, which should make access easier for many affected people. The recognition of health damage caused by forced relocation is also made easier. These steps are particularly important for the approximately 300 affected people still living in West Mecklenburg, many of whom are still suffering from the consequences of the forced evacuation.

The introduction of a nationwide hardship fund represents additional help for those affected in particular emergencies. Here they can receive support in submitting applications, as evidenced by the current need for advice in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania for 689 people being cared for. The topic remains extremely topical, as new affected people are still emerging today.

Reactions and outlook

The SED victims' representative Evelyn Zupke praised the change in the law as an important signal for the recognition of the injustices suffered. In times when more and more contemporary witnesses are becoming silent, the need for appropriate compensation and recognition for those affected is becoming increasingly clear. It remains to be seen how the new regulations will be received in practice and whether they will bring justice to the many victims, such as Marie-Luise Busse, who lost her home during her childhood.

Finally, the latest legal regulation shows that there is a constant effort to come to terms with the GDR's dark past and to finally give the victims of forced deportations the recognition they deserve. The initiative was intended not only to support those affected, but also to teach future generations what it means to lose one's homeland without warning.