French banks cited for WWII-era bilking
PARIS (JTA) — French banks stole billions of dollars from Jews and other groups during World War II and then transferred the money to North Africa, according to a 1943 CIA report.
The partial release of the report by the World Jewish Congress comes as the group is stepping up its pressure on European banks to settle claims dating from the Holocaust era.
Polish Senate OKs removal of crosses
WARSAW (JTA) — The Polish Senate amended a law on Nazi death camps last Thursday, allowing the removal of 200 crosses that have been placed near the site of the Auschwitz death camp in the past year.
The amendment would let stand a large cross erected near Auschwitz that was used in a 1979 Mass by Pope John Paul II. Polish Catholic activists erected the 200 smaller crosses to commemorate approximately 150 Poles who were executed by the Nazis during World War II. The measure now goes to Poland’s lower house.