Berlin - It was one of the biggest thefts in history - the forced transfer of Jewish-owned businesses, homes and art collections to German "Aryan" ownership.
Long before the Kristallnacht pogrom of November 9, 1938, the Nazis systemically began seizing possessions of Jews living in Germany, under an official policy known as Aryanization.
After the start of World War II in September 1939, the Germans continued the looting in Eastern Europe, helped by a huge apparatus which administered the stolen items.
The main beneficiaries were the Nazis themselves, their supporters, art dealers and museums.
Berlin - The systematic persecution of Jews in Germany began soon after Hitler came to power in January 1933 and led to the state- orchestrated mass slaughter of the Holocaust. Following is a brief chronology of the events:
1933 - Boycott of Jewish businesses, attorneys, and physicians. Law for the Reestablishment of the Civil Service results in the firing of Jewish professors from universities.
1934-35 - "No Jews" signs placed with increasing frequency outside shops, restaurants and public recreation facilities. Employment ban on Jewish actors and authors. Medical and law students barred from sitting exams. Nuremberg racial laws outlaw marriage and out-of- wedlock relationships between Jews and "Aryans."
Berlin - German factory orders plunged in September, official data released Thursday showed, as the global financial crisis hits Europe's biggest economy.
The Ministry of Economics and Technology said new orders tumbled by a dramatic 8 per cent month on month in September to record their biggest drop since records began about 17 years ago.
The fall was led by an 11.4-per-cent slump in foreign orders with domestic orders dropping by 4.3 per cent.
Berlin - Plans to partly privatize Germany's national railway system went on hold Wednesday, with senior officials suggesting there would be no stock flotation before a general election next September.
A sale of just under one quarter of DB Mobility Logistics, a unit operating passenger and freight trains, had been set for last week, but was called off because of the global financial crisis.
Berlin - The US presidential election might have been decided but the race is now on for early invitations to Barack Obama's White House.
With Germans enthusiastically joining in the global celebrations of the 47-year-old Illinois senator's sweeping victory, Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier are both likely to hope they are top of the list for talks with the new US president.
Berlin - Germany's government approved on Wednesday an anti-recession package that supporters predict will boost investment and consumption by 50 billion euros (63 billion euros) and secure up to 1 million jobs over the next two years.
But the various measures, expected to load another 12 billion euros onto the federal budget, still face scrutiny in the two parties making up Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition government.
In a bid to revive flagging domestic sales of cars, the plans include a year or two of relief from vehicle tax on brand-new cars.
Berlin - German factory orders plunged in September, official data released Thursday showed, as the global financial crisis hits Europe's biggest economy.
Berlin - The US presidential election might have been decided but the race is now on for early invitations to Barack Obama's White House.
Berlin - Germany's government approved on Wednesday an anti-recession package that supporters predict will boost investment and consumption by 50 billion euros (63 billion euros) and secure up to 1 million jobs over the next two years.
