Recognition and compensation

Forced labourers organized themselves into associations immediately after their return.
At first, they claimed pensions and assistance in the search for missing persons.
From the mid-1950s onwards, they demanded compensation, reacting to Germany's negative stance on this request. In 1961, this struggle yielded its first results with the Greek-German Agreement on compensation for victims of Nazism. Ultimately, however, beneficiaries received only the first installment, covering just 55% of the amounts requested.
In the period after the restoration of democracy (1974), the associations were involved in advocating for the recognition of the National Resistance.
In 2000, Germany belatedly recognized those displaced for forced labour as a distinct category of victims of the Nazi regime. The German state provided compensation to surviving victims
through the "Memory, Responsibility, Future" Foundation.

Articles of Association of the “National Association of Forced Labourers in German Captivity, Magnesia Prefecture.” The association was established in Volos on January 14, 1961. Its primary purpose was to support members in claiming compensation under the Greek-German Agreement. Those eligible for compensation included people deported to forced-labour camps, but not members of the resistance or prisoners of war. At the same time, through various activities and events, the Association sought to bring the history of the forced labourers into the public sphere. Greek State Archives, Magnesia branch, “Unions” Archive
Application submitted by Fotios Y. Delimitrou to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, July 13, 1955, requesting compensation from the German government for the damages he suffered.
Collection Yorgos Delimitrou
Membership register of the National Association of Forced Labourers of Magnesia.
Greek State Archive, Magnesia branch. Collection Yorgos Fokoulis.
Membership card of the National Association of Forced Labourers of Magnesia, belonging to Fotis Delimitrou.
Collection Yorgos Delimitrou
Receipt for compensation payment to Yorgos Akrivos, 1962, and cover page from the Ministry of Finance.
Collection: Apostolos Y. Panagiotopoulos
“…the court case took place in ’62, so we could get the compensation. They awarded the compensation, and we received the first installment, but we didn’t receive the second one.”
Yorgos Fokoulis
Report on the conference organized by the Confederation of former forced labourers which took place in Volos, calling for the recognition of the National Resistance, Newspaper Tachydromos, May 1, 1979.
The official recognition, however belated, filled the survivors with pride. In their homes, these mementos are often framed and displayed in a prominent place.
Medal awarded to Ioannis Yeorgatzis for his participation in the National Resistance. Collection Vlasis Yeorgatzis
Certificate recognizing the participation of Konstantinos Yeorgalas in the National Resistance, stating that he was a member of EAM and a forced labourer in German captivity, dated September 9, 1985. Collection Soula Yeorgala.
Certificate awarding the National Resistance Medal to Athanasios Kontorigas, stating that he was a member of EPON and a forced labourer in German captivity. Collection Vasilis Kontorigas