Speech at the Theodor Herzl Institute in New York, 19 March 1961

Schwarz-Weiß-Aufnahme von Willy Brandt, der im Jahr 1961 mit verschränkten Armen vor einem Mikrofon sitzt.
© Archiv der sozialen Demokratie, Bonn

In his speech on “Deutschland, Israel und die Juden” (“Germany, Israel and the Jews”) Willy Brandt emphasises that “the horrible crimes which were committed against millions of Jewish people in the name of the German people (…) cannot (be) erased by any amount of good will, any reparations, nor any compensation.” At the same time, the Governing Mayor of Berlin asks for trust in the young democracy of the Federal Republic of Germany which is earnestly attempting to bring about reconciliation with Israel and the Jews.
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