The centenarian was despatched in 1943 from Marseille to Germany, the place he labored unpaid for greater than two years in a chemical plant. His lawyer says France could be in breach of worldwide legislation by refusing to pay the sum.
A 102-year-old Frenchman is searching for €43,000 from France for the compelled labour he carried out in Germany throughout World Warfare II.
“I need to really feel proud to be French and be capable of put this Franco-German historical past behind me. I really feel betrayed by politicians,” Albert Corrieri, who will flip 103 this yr, advised Euronews.
Corrieri was solely 21 years outdated when German officers took him from the restaurant in Marseille, the place he labored as a plumber. He was despatched to Germany as a part of the Obligatory Work Service (STO) programme enacted by the French Vichy authorities in 1943.
Corrieri labored on the IG Farben chemical plant within the Ludwigshafen camp till it was liberated by American troopers on 15 April 1945.
Nearly eight a long time after the tip of his compelled labour, the centenarian has introduced a case in opposition to the French state, arguing that he ought to be paid €43,000 in compensation — equal to roughly €10 per hour — for the greater than two years of labor that he carried out in opposition to his will in the course of the battle.
Corrieri advised Euronews that he had been preventing to obtain a reparation because the Fifties.
“I by no means obtained wherever, however final yr a historian buddy advisable I take the case to courtroom”, he mentioned.
“Time just isn’t on my facet, I am unable to afford for this to go on for for much longer. Getting the cash is about dignity, it’s what I’m owed and I’ll cross it onto my youngsters if I am unable to spend all of it”, added Corrieri.
The 102-year-old attended a listening to for his case in Marseille on Tuesday.
Throughout the listening to, the courtroom’s public rapporteur said {that a} 1951 legislation — which permits compelled labourers to demand reparations from the French state — operates below a statute of limitations from 1955 onwards.
Below these phrases it could be too late for Corrieri — who’s awaiting a courtroom ruling on 18 March — to file his reparation declare.
Michel Pautot, Corrieri’s lawyer, advised Euronews that he believed any such resolution could be a breach of worldwide legislation.
“My shopper was deported and enslaved, each of that are crimes in opposition to humanity. These crimes are usually not time-barred, so ought to the courtroom refuse our request it could imply that there’s a double normal for crimes in opposition to humanity,” he mentioned.
‘Battle for historical past and rememberance’
Paperwork seen by Euronews, which embrace Corrieri’s deportation card and his “sufferer of deportation card,” present proof that he was deported and compelled to work as a part of the Obligatory Work Service.
Pautot mentioned the case was necessary as a result of it was “a battle for historical past and remembrance”.
ADVERTISEMENT“The victims of the STO should not stay the forgotten victims of historical past,” he added.
Whereas lots of of hundreds of French residents had been deported to work in compelled labour camps, many died on web site and solely a handful of survivors people are nonetheless alive.
This isn’t the primary case of its sort, as Pautot filed a compensation case in Good in February on behalf of one other centenarian, Erpilio Trovati, who additionally carried out compelled labour in the course of the battle.
Trovati’s utility was rejected as a result of the case was deemed to have been introduced too late as a result of 1955 statute of limitations for compelled labourers. He has, nonetheless, appealed in opposition to the choice.
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