Inheritance from a Nazi war criminal

CNN: Son of wanted Nazi wants him declared dead


There was a similar story about this same issue a few months back about another Nazi war criminal in South America who also had millions in the bank, but I can't remember the name.

I thought common sense would have any money owned by these individuals going to the victims. I find it surprising that the family can gain financially from the criminal actions of their forefathers and that the banks continue to hold onto this money.

To have an account compound to €1.78 million untouched in 63 years at 3% would have required €275,000 to start with. That would have been €3.4 million in today's money. The question would clearly be how much of the dough was directly stolen and how much did one have before from pervious work and/or inheritance? The kids say they want to pay some of it back in restitution.

The inheritors of an awful lot of big ancestral piles/fortunes in the UK and antebellum mansions/fortunes in the US would have a lot to cough up if each one of them had to pay slave labor restitution 200-300 years later.

True. But I just assumed a convicted Nazi war criminal (Dr. Death) would be required to forfeit his assets.

Quote from the article you linked, TM -- sounds to me like he hasn't actually been convicted.

You are corect.

I wonder why they didn't have a trial in absence.

According to wikipedia he may have already been punished.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aribert_Heim

It is not possible to convict someone without giving him the chance to defend himself. (which is obviously impossible if they don't know if he's still alive or already dead)

Not normally, but convictions "in absentia" are possible. The link discusses USA law, possibly it is easier in other juristictions .