Coming to Terms with the Past: Some Elements of German Practice Since 1945 in the Light of International Law

More than 70 years after the end of the Second World War, questions of reparations and compensation remain controversial throughout many parts of the world. This contribution sheds some light on elements of German practice in this field since 1945. It presents the applicable principles of international law and gives an overview of different German efforts at Wiedergutmachung. It also discusses current controversial aspects and asks whether there are blind spots in the German practice. In particular, it finds that the renewed urgency of debates about reparation are reflective of broader trends in the debates on the politics of history.