Hans Heinz Altmann Collection

This collection holds the restitution files of Hans-Heinz Altmann from the 1960s and 1970s, when he lived in Buenos Aires. Consequently, most of his clients were residents of Argentina and Uruguay. He worked closely with his German correspondent Hans-Hermann Keller. The documentation on the individual claims is not always complete.

To avoid inaccuracies in the translation, the German legal terms referring to the claims were kept. The term Rentenanspruch refers to pension claims from social security in the German Reich. This is the most frequent claim in this collection. Very often, the clients claimed a Gesundheitsschaden – a health impairment, which had to be documented by extensive medical opinions or attestations. Many Rentenanspruch cases included insurance records and job references. Claims include survivors' benefits for widows (Witwenrente) and restitution for loss of property (Vermoegensschaden), loss of professional, educational or economical advancement (Berufschaden, Ausbildungsschaden, Schaden im wirtschaftlichen Fortkommen) or losses due to expulsion (Vertreibungsschaden). Other cases deal with health insurance (Krankenversicherungszuschuss), disabled veterans' pensions (Kriegsopferversorgung) and certain tax exemptions granted to war survivors (Haertausgleich, Lastenausgleich).

In addition, the lawyers’ correspondence displays common legal practice, how facts are sometimes interpreted rather creatively in order to either win the case or get the fee. Water damage has affected the collection. Documents in 4/37 have been infested with mold. Copies were made, but the originals had to be discarded.