Ferencz discusses slave labor

A BBC Production, aired November 11, 1990, 10:05 PM. Includes segments of interview with Benjamin Ferencz, among others. British Prisoners of War who worked for the German company I.G. Farben now want compensation for their years as slave laborers. After the war Farben was forced to sell its assets, so the question of compensation was impossible. But since the unification of Germany Farben has been trying to re-claim lost assets estimated at two billion pounds. Joan Bakewell investigates the POWs hopes for compensation. Ferencz tells of the absence of a Nuremberg trial on behalf of the British POWs. In terms of claiming compensation, Ferencz argues that from a moral and human point of view, anyone injured should be entitled to compensation ("that is a fundamental law"). He claims, however, that what is "legally possible" in a court in Germany is different from what is "morally desirable." With the reunification of Germany, Ferencz declares compensation an open issue and urges individuals to file claims. Ferencz explains the typical position taken by companies involved in slave labor claims: Factory: It never happened; BF: Here are documents; Factory: Working conditions were fine. They were better than other camps. We saved their lives, so why do we have to compensate them? Ferencz concludes asking the German goverment to be fair.