BERLIN (AP) — German lawmakers have agreed to make symbolic payments to former Soviet prisoners of war in acknowledgement of their suffering at the hands of the Nazis.
Hans-Ulrich Krueger, a budget spokesman for the Social Democrats, said Wednesday the budget committee proposal allocates 10 million euros ($11 million) as ‘symbolic financial recognition” for former Soviet prisoners.
According to Krueger, some 5.3 million Soviet soldiers were imprisoned by the Nazis and more than half were killed or died in captivity. It’s not clear how many are still alive today or how the money will be distributed.
Although relations between Germany and Russia are tense due to the Ukraine crisis, Chancellor Angela Merkel visited Moscow earlier this month to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII.
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