Germany Launches Long-Awaited Hardship Fund for SED Dictatorship Victims

Decades of waiting end as survivors of political persecution in the GDR gain access to overdue justice. Will this fund heal old wounds?

, and Administrator

2025 November 7 . 11:02 PM

1 min read

In the image there is a book with army tank and jeeps on it, it seems like a war along with a text... — In the image there is a book with army tank and jeeps on it, it seems like a war along with a text above it.

Hardship Fund: More Compensation for SED Victims - Germany Launches Long-Awaited Hardship Fund for SED Dictatorship Victims

A nationwide hardship fund for victims of the SED dictatorship in East Germany has finally launched, 36 years after the fall of the regime. The fund aims to provide additional compensation options for those persecuted during the GDR era, many of whom have not received adequate support until now.

Estimates suggest that around 250,000 former political prisoners, 138,000 former children in state-run homes, and 100,000 people who faced professional discrimination were persecuted under the GDR. While some have since passed away, approximately 38,000 individuals currently receive a pension for SED victims, and another 20,000 benefit from other forms of assistance.

The fund's launch comes as a relief to many in Saxony, where resources for supporting victims have been insufficient in recent years. The Saxon state commissioner for the examination of the SED dictatorship will manage the fund, granting extensions of compensation under the state aid account to those who suffered under the SED regime. Specific recipients and detailed eligibility criteria will be established by Saxon state authorities.

The nationwide hardship fund is a significant step towards acknowledging and compensating the victims of the SED dictatorship. It is hoped that this fund will provide much-needed support to those who have long awaited recognition for their suffering.