GERMAN GOVERNMENT CONTACTS


The Bundesamt für zentrale Dienste und offene Vermögensfragen  (aka the BADV) (Federal Office for Central Services and Unresolved Property Issues.) is responsible for adminstering the "Vermögensgesetz" (aka the VermG), the law for compensation property losses under Nazi tyranny. The VermG applies to proprietary rights of citizens and associations and for losses relating to racial, political, religious or ideological reasons in the period from January 30th, 1933, until May 8th, 1945.

BADV
DGZ-Ring 12
13086 Berlin, GERMANY
Tel: +49 (0) 3018 7030-0
Fax: +49 (0) 3018 7030-1140
eMail: poststelle@badv.bund.de

Dr. Horst-Dieter Kittke - President

Dr. Ellen Dealers - Spokesperson
Tel:  +49 (0) 3018 7030-1424
Fax: +49 (0) 3018 7030-1628
eMail: ellen.haendler@badv.bund.de

The BADV is an authority UNDER the German Federal Minstry of Finance (Bundesministeriums der Finanzen ) (aka the BMF

BMF (Berlin)
Wilhelmstraße 97
10117 Berlin, GERMANY
Postanschrift: 11016 Berlin
Tel.: 03018 / 682 - 0
Fax: 03018 / 682 - 32 60
postelle@bmf.bund.de

Website: www.bundesfinanzministerium.de/

The Federal Freedom of Information Act  ( Gesetz zur Regelung des Zugangs zu Informationen des Bundes )(or (Informationsfreiheitsgesetz (aka the IFG).  is administered by the Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information "Der Bundesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz und die Informationsfreiheit"

BFDI
Husarenstraße 30
D-53117 Bonn, GERMANY
Tel.: +49 (0)228-997799-0
Fax: +49 (0)228-997799-550
E-Mail: poststelle@bfdi.bund.de
Website: www.bfdi.bund.de

No formal enquiry document is needed to request information under the IFGF. SImply inserting a paragraph (I suggest at the beginning or the end of any correspondence, clearly stating something like this (in German):

"This request is being made under the Federal Feedom of Information Act (Informationsfreiheitsgesetz)."

The BFDI is an independent supervisory body organized under the  Federal Ministry of the Interior (Bundesministerium des Innern) (aka the BMI)

BMI
Alt-Moabit 101D
10559 Berlin
Tel: +49 3018 681-0
Fax: +49 3018 681-2926
E-Mail: poststelle@bmi.bund.de

Peter Schaar - Federal Commissioner

Both agencies are subject to review by the Bun­des­mi­nis­te­ri­um der Jus­tiz (Ministry of Justice) (aka the BMJ)

BMJ
Mohrenstraße 37
10117 Bonn, GERMANY
Tel: +49 (0)30) 18 580 - 0
Fax: +49. (0)30) 18 580 - 95 25
E-Mail: poststelle@bmj.bund.de
Website: www.bmj.bund.de

NOTES:

[1] We can provide English and German versions of the German Freedom of Information Act or Law as well as individual contact information within these agencies. 

[2] The above is informational and not intended as legal advice.  We urge you to obtain legal advice and assume nothing.

[3] It has been our experience that the German Legal system is designed to achieve fairness through the uniform application of laws. The US and UK legal systems are based on equity and US and UK courts tend to render decisions based on the case facts and circumstances.  Germany is not there yet. 

[4] German is the offficial language for any communications with German agencies.  Corresponding in any other laguage will delay a response while translation takes place.  The German Government office may answer once out of courtesy but any follow up letter would be answered with a polite reminder that you'll need to communicate in German and to please make your request again (in German).  Subsequent responses may take 10 days to 4 weeks depending on processing times and complexity. Some responses have built-in decision-making periods of up to 30 days.

[5] We can provide a good contact for Legal Advice in Germany and resonably priced translation services in the US.

[6] Don't be afraid to ask any agency for help on how to proceed.  They're staffed by very polite and highly educated people doing their jobs in accordance with the German legal and regulatory frameworks. They operate under processes and mechanisms that sometimes seem to defy common sense.

[7] Keep a sense of humor and be patient.

Let us know if we can help.  Contact us at info@anschelandcompany.com

Good luck.