Three websites I used for my project:
IEarn
This website is credible because it has the ".org" in the URL, it has the title of the person who wrote the article (Marian England, Coeditor), and also it has the date that the article was written.
Youtube
Although this is a ".com" it has the date that it was created, the creator of the video, and the creator interacts with people who have comments and questions at the bottom of the page.
CRT-II
This website is credible because it has links, when it was last updated, ".org" , and contact information.
What did I find out
Website 1 The people who were sent to the camps during the holocaust were having their items stolen from them. Their homes and stores were taken over. Aside from that, when they were forced to get onto the trains to go to the concentration camp, they had to separate their belongings into baskets; things such as clothing, jewelry, and gold were separated. Wedding rings and golden teeth were melted down and sent to Switzerland. This was how Germany was able to have currency to continue their war efforts. One survivor said, "Once you hit the camp, you were a nobody." (website #1) The Nazi's were sweeping across Europe and taking gold from every country they invaded. In 1940, 800 million dollars in gold was taken from central banks in Europe. This was by far, the largest amount of money that was taken from Belgium, 223 million dollars. "The money contained in the Swiss bank accounts from both the central banks of Europe and Holocaust victims is said to be millions, possibly billions of dollars. As the Nazi's shipped valuables to Switzerland, they made extensive use of the safe deposit boxes there. American documents have related that there are hundreds of millions of dollars in the bank vaults, composed of jewelry, securities, artwork assets, and valuables. Some of it was not returned; most was not." (website #1)
Website 2 There were many Jews who were opening bank accounts with random numbers and names. They were waiting for the war to be over so they could take the money back, but after the war it was hard to locate the account because of the false names and the random numbers. Another problem is that they do not have any documents. How were they suppose to carry these documents to the concentration camps with them? They couldn't.
Website 3 This website mostly talks about how the CRT (Claims Resolution Tribunal) is finding the names of the people who have put their money in the banks. They are trying to contact them. "...the CRT published approximately 2,700 additional names of Account Owners and approximately 400 additional names of Power of Attorney holders of accounts probably or possibly belonging to Victims of Nazi Persecution." (website #3) Although they want to give the money to the people who rightfully gave their money to the banks, there are some people who are untruthful. "The CRT has received over 32,000 claims from Nazi victims or their heirs to assets deposited in Swiss banks in the period before and during World War II. " (website #3) Aside from this large number of claims, the amount that they say they are entitled to is quite ridiculous.
Website 2 There were many Jews who were opening bank accounts with random numbers and names. They were waiting for the war to be over so they could take the money back, but after the war it was hard to locate the account because of the false names and the random numbers. Another problem is that they do not have any documents. How were they suppose to carry these documents to the concentration camps with them? They couldn't.
Website 3 This website mostly talks about how the CRT (Claims Resolution Tribunal) is finding the names of the people who have put their money in the banks. They are trying to contact them. "...the CRT published approximately 2,700 additional names of Account Owners and approximately 400 additional names of Power of Attorney holders of accounts probably or possibly belonging to Victims of Nazi Persecution." (website #3) Although they want to give the money to the people who rightfully gave their money to the banks, there are some people who are untruthful. "The CRT has received over 32,000 claims from Nazi victims or their heirs to assets deposited in Swiss banks in the period before and during World War II. " (website #3) Aside from this large number of claims, the amount that they say they are entitled to is quite ridiculous.
Conclusion
- There is millions, possibly billions of dollars in the Swiss bank accounts from during the Holocaust
- It is hard to give back money to the correct person due to the mix up in information
- There are many claims from Nazi victims to assets deposited in Swiss banks