Legal Documents on Restitution

Here you find a list of the Austrian legal documents that served as a basis - after 1945 - for recording, returning or disposing of property assets that had been confiscated, "aryanized" or withdrawn in some other form in connection with the National Socialist take-over. The numbers of the legal gazettes (BGBl. numbers), shaded in grey, connect you to the Legal Information System of the Federal Chancellery (in German); there the texts of the laws, published in the State or the Federal Law Gazette, have been archived as PDF files.

I. Restitution Laws

Law on the Registration of Seized Property - Law on the registration of aryanized and other property seized in connection with the assumption of power by the National Socialists of 10 May 1945, StGBl 10/1945.
As amended by: StGBl 19/1945 (correction of typing errors)
StGBl 23/1945
StGBl 135/1945
StGBl 201/1945
BGBl 150/1946 (4th Amendment to the Law on the Registration of Seized Property)

Ordinance on the Registration of Seized Property - Ordinance of the Federal Ministry for Securing Property and Economic Planning in agreement with the Federal Ministries concerned of 15 September 1946 on the implementation of the law on the registration of aryanized and other property seized in connection with the assumption of power by the National Socialists of 10 May 1945, StGBl 10, BGBl 166/1946

Repatriation Act - Law on the repatriation of public property of 10 May 1945, StGBl 11/1945.
As amended by: StGBl 19/1945 (DFB)

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Annulment Act - Federal Law of 15 May 1946 concerning the annulment of legal transactions and other legal acts during the German occupation of Austria, BGBl 106/1946.

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First Restitution Act - Federal Law of 26 July 1946 concerning the restitution of seized property at present administered by the Federal Government or the Provincial Governments, BGBl 156/1946.

Ordinance of the Federal Ministry for Securing Property and Economic Planning in agreement with the Federal Ministries concerned of 15 September 1946 on the implementation of the First Restitution Act, BGBl 167/1946.

Second Restitution Act - Federal Law of 6 February 1947 concerning the restitution of seized property at present held by the Republic of Austria, BGBl 53/1947.

Third Restitution Act - Federal Law of 6 February 1947 concerning the annulment of property seizure, BGBl 54/1947.
As amended by: BGBl 148/1947

Fourth Restitution Act - Federal Law of 21 May 1947 concerning company names altered or deleted under National Socialist coercion, BGBl 143/1947.
As amended by: BGBl. 10/1991.

Fifth Restitution Act - Federal Law of 30 June 1949 concerning the restitution of property seized from legal entities in business which lost their legal personality under National Socialist coercion, BGBl 164/1949.

Sixth Restitution Act - Federal Law of 30 June 1949 concerning the restitution of industrial property rights, BGBl 199/1949.
As amended by: BGBl 83/1950
BGBl 10/1991

Seventh Restitution Act - Federal Law of 14 July 1949 concerning the assertion of claims arising from service contracts with private employers, BGBl 207/1949.

Federal Law of 5 July 1962 on filing certain claims arising from employment contracts in the private industry, BGBl 187/1962.
As amended by: BGBl 505/1994

Federal Law of 12 December 1963 concerning compensation of certain claims arising from employment contracts in the private industry, BGBl 319/1963
As amended by: BGBl 505/1994

Ordinance of the Federal Ministry for Securing Property and Economic Planning of 12 November 1948 concerning the extension of the deadline for filing restitution claims under the First and Second Restitution Act, BGBl 257/1948.

Ordinance of the Federal Ministry of Justice of 24 November 1948 concerning the extension of the deadline for filing companies under the Fourth Restitution Act, BGBl 259/1948.

Ordinance of the Federal Ministry for Securing Property and Economic Planning of 1 December 1948 concerning the extension of the deadline for filing restitution claims under the Third Restitution Act, BGBl 5/1949.

Ordinance of the Federal Ministry for Securing Property and Economic Planning of 21 May 1949 concerning the extension of the deadline for filing restitution claims under the Third Restitution Act, BGBl 136/1949.

Ordinance of the Federal Ministry of Justice of 17 November 1949 concerning the extension of the deadline for filing companies under the Fourth Restitution Act, BGBl 278/1949.

Ordinance of the Federal Ministry for Securing Property and Economic Planning of 24 November 1949 concerning the extension of the deadline for filing restitution claims under the First, Second and Third Restitution Act, BGBl 279/1949.

Ordinance of the Federal Ministry of Finance of 21 February 1950 concerning the extension of the deadline for filing restitution claims under the First, Second and Third Restitution Act, BGBl 72/1950.

Ordinance of the Federal Ministry for Social Administration of 4 August 1951 concerning the extension of the deadline for asserting claims under the Seventh Restitution Act, BGBl 199/1951.

Ordinance of the Federal Ministry of Finance of 8 November 1951 concerning the extension of the deadlines for filing restitution claims under the First, the Second and the Third Restitution Act and the deadlines for asserting restitution claims under the Fifth Restitution Act, BGBl 257/1951.
As amended by: BGBl 111/1952

Ordinance of the Federal Ministry of Justice of 14 October 1952 concerning the extension of the deadline for filing companies under the Fourth Restitution Act, BGBl 199/1952.

Ordinance of the Federal Ministry of Finance of 21 October 1952 concerning the extensions of deadlines for asserting restitution claims under the First, the Second, the Third and the Fifth Restitution Act, BGBl 200/1952.
As amended by: BGBl 75/1953

Ordinance of the Federal Ministry of Finance of 8 October 1953 concerning the extension of the deadlines for asserting restitution claims under the First, the Second, the Third and the Fifth Restitution Act, BGBl 167/1953.
As amended by: BGBl 252/1954
BGBl 201/1955

Ordinance of the Federal Ministry for Social Administration of 17 November 1953 concerning the extension of the deadline for asserting claims under the Seventh Restitution Act, BGBl 179/1953.

Ordinance of the Federal Ministry for Trade and Reconstruction of 10 November 1953 concerning the extension of the deadline for asserting restitution claims under the Sixth Restitution Act, BGBl 186/1953.

Administrators Act 1952 - Proclamation of the Federal Government of 27 May 1953 concerning the public re-announcement of the federal law concerning the appointment of public administrator and public supervisors, BGBl 100/1953.
As amendes by: BGBl 151/1964
BGBl 275/1966 (VfGH)
BGBl 422/1974
BGBl 10/1991

Ordinance on the Implementation of the Administrators Act - Ordinance of the Federal Ministry for Securing Property and Economic Planning in agreement with the Federal Ministries concerned of 25 November 1946 concerning the implementation of the Administrators Act, BGBl 7/1947.

Administrators Act - Federal Law of 26 July 1946 concerning the appointment of public administrators and public supervisors, BGBl 157/1946.
Subs.: BGBl 163/1949 (Amendment of the Administrators Act)
BGBl 24/1950
BGBl 54/1952 (Second Amendment of the Administrators Act)
BGBl 160/1952

Federal Law of 1 February 1946 on Public Administrators and Public Supervisors, BGBl 75/1946 (repealed by BGBl 157/1946).

Law on the Appointment of Public Administrators and Public Supervisors, StGBl 9/1945 (repealed by BGBl 75/1946).

First Restitution Claims Act - Federal Law of 19 November 1947 concerning the assertion of restitution claims of dissolved Austrian consumer co-operatives, BGBl 256/1947.

Second Restitution Claims Act - Federal Law of 11 July 1951 concerning the transfer of claims for the restitution of assets of certain legal entities which lost their legal personality during the German occupation of Austria and later regained it, BGBl 176/1951.

Third Restitution Claims Act - Federal Law of 16 December 1953 concerning the transfer of claims for the restitution of assets of further legal entities which lost their legal personality during the German occupation of Austria and did not subsequently regain it, and on the amendment and supplementation of the Second Restitution Claims Act, BGBl 23/1954.

Fourth Restitution Claims Act - Federal Law of 17 May 1961 concerning the registration of claims by receiving organizations for the restitution of property under the Restitution Acts, BGBl 133/1961.

First Return of Assets Act - Federal Law of 6 February 1947 concerning the restoration of property of dissolved or prohibited democratic organizations, BGBl 55/1947.

Second Return of Assets Act - Federal Law of 22 June 1949 concerning the claims for restoration of property of dissolved democratic organizations as lease-holders, BGBl 165/1949.

Ordinance of the Federal Ministry for Social Administration of 6 October 1951 concerning the extension of the deadline for asserting claims under the Second Return of Assets Act, BGBl 237/1951.

Third Return of Assets Act - Federal Law of 14 July 1949 concerning the assertion of claims arising from private service contracts which were lost between March 1933 and March 1938, BGBl 208/1949.

Ordinance of the Federal Ministry for Social Administration of 4 August 1951 concerning the extension of the deadline for asserting claims under the Third Return of Assets Act, BGBl 200/1951.
As amended by: BGBl 49/1952

Ordinance of the Federal Ministry for Social Administration of 17 November 1953 concerning the extension of the deadline for asserting claims under the Third Return of Assets Act, BGBl 180/1953.

Federal Constitutional Law of 14 July 1949 concerning the assertion of withdrawn, non-fulfilled or lost claims arising from service contracts of workers in agriculture and forestry, BGBl 210/1949.

Authorities Transtion Act, Federal Law of 20 July 1945 concerning the transition of administrative and judicial institutions of the German Reich into the legal system of the Republic of Austria, StGBl 94/1945.
(This law was amended on several occasions. You will find further information on the pages of the Rechtsinformationssystem des BKA - Legal Information System of the Federal Chancellery)

Federal Law of 16 December 1949 concerning the dissolution of Federal Ministries and the new scope of competences of several Federal Ministries, BGBl 24/1950.

Federal Law of 2 July 1947 concerning the admissibility of claiming lapsed rights in court, BGBl 193/1947.
As amended by: BGBl 129/1948
BGBl 131/1949
BGBl 3/1950
BGBl 123/1950
BGBl 126/1951
BGBl. 90/1952

Insurance Reconstruction Act - Federal Law of 8 September 1955 concerning the reconstruction of the contractual insurance system, BGBl 185/1955.
As amended by: BGBl 61/1962
BGBl 569/1978

Federal Law of 26 June 1958 concerning the settlement of life insurance claims confiscated by the German Reich, BGBl 130/1958.

Federal Law of 27 June 1969 concerning the settlement of ownership of works of art in the custody of the Federal Monuments and Fine Arts Service, BGBl 294/1969.
As amended by: 311/1971

Second Artistic and Cultural Assets Settlement Act - Federal Law of 13 December 1965 concerning the release and disposal of formerly unclaimed works of art held by the Federal Government, BGBl 2/1986.
As amended by: BGBl 515/1995

Federal Law of 4 December 1998 concerning the return of works of art from Austrian federal museums and collections, BGBl I 181/1998.

Settlement Fund Act - Federal Law concerning the establishment of a General Settlement Fund for Victims of National Socialism and restitution measures, BGBl I 12/2001.
As amended by: BGBl I 40/2001
BGBl I 58/2001
BGBl I 114/2002
BGBl I 108/2004
BGBl I 142/2005
BGBl I 20/2007
BGBl I 2/2008
BGBl I 89/2008
BGBl I 54/2009

Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Austrian Federal Government concerning the settlement of issues in connection with compensation and restitution for victims of National Socialism, BGBl III 121/2001.

Proclamation by the Federal Government on having obtained legal peace in American courts pursuant to the General Settlement Fund Law, BGBl I 145/2005.

II. State Treaty and Statutory Measures Taken Under the State Treaty

State Treaty concerning the reconstitution of an independent and democratic Austria, BGBl 152/1955 (excerpt).
As amended by: BGBl III 179/2002

First State Treaty Implementation Act - Federal Law of 25 July 1956 concerning the implementation of individual provisions of Chapter IV of the State Treaty, BGBl 165/1956.
As amended by: BGBl 32/1957 (Second State Treaty Implementation Act)
BGBl 177/1957 (Fourth State Treaty Implementation Act)
BGBl 131/1958 (Sixth State Treaty Implementation Act)
BGBl 148/1958 (Seventh State Treaty Implementation Act)
BGBl 233/1959 (Ninth State Treaty Implementation Act)
BGBl 91/1993
BGBl I 119/1997 (Amendment of the First State Treaty Implementation Act)
BGBl I 98/2001
BGBl I 100/2003

Third State Treaty Implementation Act - Federal Law of 17 July 1957 by means of which further provisions are enacted for the implementation of Chapter IV of the State Treaty of 15 May 1955, BGBl 152, BGBl 176/1957.
As amended by: BGBl 148/1958

Fourth State Treaty Implementation Act - Federal Law of 10 July 1957 by means of which the First State Treaty Implementation Act is amended and supplemented, BGBl 177/1957.
As amended by: BGBl 16/1958

Fifth State Treaty Implementation Act - Federal Law of 22 January 1958 by means of which further provisions are enacted for the implementation of Chapter IV of the State Treaty of 15 May 1955, BGBl. 152, BGBl 16/1958.
As amended by: BGBl 10/1991

Seventh State Treaty Implementation Act - Federal Law of 10 July 1958 by means of which the First and the Third State Treaty Implementation Act are amended and partly supplemented, BGBl. 148/1958.
As amended by: BGBl 6/1962.

Eighth State Treaty Implementation Act - Federal Law of 10 July 1958 by means of which further provisions are enacted for the implementation of Chapter IV of the State Treaty of 15 May 1955, BGBl. 152, BGBl 149/1958.

Tenth State Treaty Implementation Act - Federal Law of 14 December 1961 by means of which the First State Treaty Implementation Act is supplemented and Article I of the Seventh State Treaty Implementation Act is amended, BGBl 6/1962.

Eleventh State Treaty Implementation Act - Federal Law of 5 July 1962 concerning the implementation of Article 27 § 2 of the State Treaty, BGBl 195/1962.
As amended by: BGBl 267/1963
BGBl 292/64
BGBl 64/1972
BGBl 91/1993

Receiving Organizations Act - Federal Law of 13 March 1957 concerning the creation of receiving organizations pursuant to Article 26 § 2 of the State Treaty, BGBl. 152/1955, BGBl 73/1957.
As amended by: BGBl 285/1958 (Amendment of the Receiving Organizations Act)
BGBl 62/1959 (2nd Amendment of the Receiving Organizations Act)
BGBl 306/1959 (3rd Amendment of the Receiving Organization Act)
BGBl 287/1960 (4th Amendment of the Receiving Organizations Act)
BGBl 149/1966 (5th Amendment of the Receiving Organizations Act)

Fourth Restitution Claims Act - Federal Law of 17 May 1961 concerning the registration of claims by receiving organizations for the restitution of property under the Restitution Acts; BGBl 133/1961

Federal Law of 5 April 1962 concerning the distribution of funds held by the "Collection Agencies", BGBl 108/1962.

Collection Agencies Compensation Act - Federal Law of 7 July 1966 concerning the compensation of claims of "Collection Agencies", BGBl 150/1966.

Compensation Fund Act - Federal Law of 22 March 1961 by means of which federal funds are provided for the establishment of a fund to compensate property losses of victims of political persecution, BGBl Nr. 100/1961.

III. Compensation Going Beyond Restitution

Victims Welfare Act - Federal Law of 4 July 1947 concerning the provision of welfare assistance to victims of the struggle for a free and democratic Austria and victims of political persecution, BGBl 183/1947.
(This law was amended on several occasions. You will find further information on the pages of the Rechtsinformationssystem des BKA - Legal Information System of the Federal Chancellery)

Federal Law of 17 April 1985 concerning the payment of one-time benefits (anniversary payment) to recipients of pensions under the Victims Welfare Act, BGBl. 183/1947, on the occasion of thr 40th anniversary of the liberalization of Austria from the National Socialist regime of violence, BGBl 186/1985.

Honorary Grants and Assistance Act - Federal Law of 23 March 1988 concerning non-recurring honorary grants and gifts to resistance fighters and victims of political persecution on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Austria's occupation, BGBl 197/1988.
As amended by: BGBl 648/1989
BGBl 757/1996

Public Servants Compensation Act - Federal Law of 18 July 1952 concerning awards of compensation for political victimisation in the public service, BGBl 181/1952.

Federal Constitutional Law of 18 July 1952 concerning the granting of compensation for political disciplinary actions in the public service to persons who are not covered by the Public Servants Compensation Act of 18 July 1952, BGBl. 181/1952, BGBl 182/1952.

Assistance Fund Act - Federal Law of 18 January 1956 providing federal funds to assist victims of political persecution not residing in Austria, BGBl 25/1956. (original title: Federal Law of 18 January 1956 by means of which federal funds are made available to assist political persecutees having their permanent domicile abroad)
As amended by: BGBl 178/1962
BGBl 714/1976

National Fund Law - Federal Law to Establish the National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism, BGBl 432/1995.
As amended by: BGBl I 183/1998
BGBl I 131/1999
BGBl I 11/2001
BGBl I 14/2001
BGBl I 19/2003

Federal Law concerning allocations to the National Fund for Victims of National Socialism, BGBl I 182/1998.

Reconciliation Fund Law - Federal Law concerning the Fund for Voluntary Payments by the Republic of Austria to Former Slave Laborers and Forced Laborers of the National Socialist Regime, BGBl I 74/2000 (also available in English: BGBl I 74/2000).
As amended by: BGBl I 122/2000
BGBl I 40/2001
BGBl I 18/2003
BGBl I 109/2004

Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Austrian Federal Government concerning the Austrian Fund "Reconciliation, Peace and Cooperation" (Reconciliation Fund), BGBl III 221/2000.

Agreement between the Government of the Austrian Federal Government and the Russian Federation concerning cooperation in connection with the voluntary payments by the Republic of Austria to former slave and forced laborers of the National Socialist regime, BGBl III 17/2001.

Agreement between the Austrian Federal Government and the Government of the Ukraine concerning cooperation in connection with the voluntary payments by the Republic of Austria to former slave and forced laborers of the National Socialist regime, BGBl III 18/2001.

Agreement between the Austrian Federal Government and the Government of the Czech Republic concerning cooperation in connection with the voluntary payments by the Republic of Austria to former slave and forced laborers of the National Socialist regime, BGBl III 19/2001.

Agreement between the Austrian Federal Government and the Government of the Republic of Poland concerning cooperation in connection with the voluntary payments by the Republic of Austria to former slave and forced laborers of the National Socialist regime, BGBl III 20/2001.

Agreement between the Austrian Federal Government and the Government of the Republic of Hungary concerning cooperation in connection with the voluntary payments by the Republic of Austria to former slave and forced laborers of the National Socialist regime, BGBl III 21/2001.

Agreement between the Austrian Federal Government and the Government of the Republic of Belarus concerning cooperation in connection with the voluntary payments by the Republic of Austria to former slave and forced laborers of the National Socialist regime, BGBl III 44/2001.

IV. Agreements Under International Law

Finance and Settlement Agreement (the so-called Bad Kreuznach Agreement) - Agreement between the Republic of Austria and the Federal German Republic concerning the settlement of damage suffered by displaced persons, re-settled persons and persecutees, as well as concerning other financial issues and issues from the social sphere, BGBl 283/1962.

V. Compensation Laws concerning Material Damages Connected to the Assumption of Power by the National Socialists, War- and Persecution-Related Material Damages, for late Returnees as well as Resettlers and Displaced Persons

Assumption of Power by the National Socialists-Related Material Damage Act - Federal Law of 25 June 1958 concerning the award of compensation for damages connected to the assumption of power by the National Socialists in Austria, BGBl 126/1958.
As amended by: BGBl 98/1959
BGBl 304/1959

War- and Persecution-Related Material Damage Act - Federal Law of 25 June 1958 concerning the award of compensation for damage to household equipment or occupational utensils incurred as result of war or political persecution, BGBl 127/1958.
As amended by: BGBl 99/1959
BGBl 305/1959

Decree of the Federal Ministry of Finance of 1 September 1959 enacting the rules of procedure of the Federal Compensation Commission, BGBl 202/1959.
As amended by: BGBl 302/1962
BGBl 538/1975

Federal Law of 13 June 1962 concerning the extension of the scope of application of laws concerning material damages connected to the assumption of power by the National Socialists, war- and persecution-related material damages, BGBl 176/1962.

Late Returnee Act - Federal Law of 25 June 1958 concerning financial support for late returnees, BGBl 128/1958.
As amended by: BGBl 314/1994

Registration Act - Federal Law of 14 December 1961 concerning the registration of material damage incurred as a result of resettlement or displacement, BGBl 12/1962.
As amended by: BGBl 137/1962 (correction of typing errors)
BGBl 64/1963
BGBl 132/1964
BGBl 375/1970

Resettlers and Displaced Persons Compensation Act - Federal Law of 13 June 1962 concerning the compensation for resettlers and displaced persons, BGBl 177/1962.
As amended by: BGBl 105/1965
BGBl 375/1970

Temporary Assistance Act - Federal Law of 13 December 1976 concerning the award of a temporary assistance for the mitigation of hardships incurred as a result of certain property losses, BGBl 712/1976.