Many thousands of people were waiting for this. In prisons in the communist GDR, almost until German reunification in 1990, they were forced to work for Western companies. IKEA intends to allocate EUR 6 million to compensate former prisoners.
The Swedish furniture company is thus keeping its promise made in 2012. The first report on the abuse of prisoners in the GDR was published then. He said West German companies were also involved in the forced labor system, including mail order companies Otto and Quelle, as well as grocery chain Aldi.
Relief fund
– The fact that IKEA is a pioneer in this respect is of historical importance – says Evelyn Zupke, the German government's representative for the victims of the SED dictatorship. – The abbreviation SED stands for the Socialist Unity Party of Germany in the GDR. IKEA faces its responsibility, which deserves great respect, Zupke emphasizes in an interview for DW. – This path also shows us how we can help people today who suffered during the dictatorship.
The money promised by the Swedish company is to be transferred to the national aid fund, which the German parliament intends to adopt by the end of 2024. So far, comparable funds only exist in the eastern states of Germany. However, only victims of the dictatorship living in the former GDR are entitled to compensation. Those who currently live in western Germany have so far left empty-handed. But now that is about to change.
There is enough money for 2 thousand. victims
IKEA's millions alone will provide financial support for approximately 2,000 people. victims. The representative for the victims of the SED dictatorship now hopes that German companies will join the fund. – I would especially like to see companies like Aldi and Otto finally take a closer look at this issue, said Evelyn Zupke.
However, these and other companies have not yet shown any willingness to compensate former forced laborers. There was also no response to the analysis of the Humboldt University of Berlin published in April 2024, which documented many incriminating cases. Political prisoners were allegedly forced to produce women's tights, which were later sold in Aldi.
Produced under duress
The work by Berlin researchers details how products from forced labor in the GDR found their way to West German stores and mail order catalogs. Prisoners in Cottbus were forced to produce Praktica cameras, which were shipped to customers by mail order houses Quelle and Otto. Audio cassettes for Magna were produced by prisoners in Dessau. In this way, the GDR regime was withdrawing urgently needed currency from capitalist countries.
The system of forced labor in East German prisons existed for several decades: “The use of prisoners was aimed at using their labor for the benefit of the state planned economy,” the researchers write. “From the 1950s until the end of the GDR, between 15,000 and 30,000 prisoners were forced to work every year and were mainly exploited in areas where civilian workers were unwilling to work due to poor conditions.”
Punishments for disobedient prisoners
Prisoners who resisted faced inhuman punishments. “Such a refusal inevitably led to disciplinary measures that could range from the withdrawal of privileges such as receiving visitors and parcels to three weeks of solitary confinement on minimal food rations,” the scientific analysis said.
IKEA drew specific financial conclusions from this study and its own analyses, other companies stuck to their declarations. “We regret and condemn the apparently widespread practice in the former GDR of the use of political prisoners and those convicted of forced production of goods,” an Aldi spokesman commented on the study.
Why Aldi doesn't want to pay
It is unlikely that Aldi will follow IKEA's example. Although it has been known since 2013 that the discount chain's products were also produced in the famous Hoheneck women's prison.
“However, due to the large time interval between these events, it is not possible to analyze in detail the details necessary for the final assessment of the compensation solution,” this is how Aldi explained its position.
Therefore, for now, IKEA remains the only company that participates in the fund for former forced laborers. – IKEA is consistently contributing to clarifying this matter – assures Walter Kadnar, head of the German branch of the Swedish concern. – The company deeply regrets the fact that the products were manufactured by political prisoners in the GDR – he adds.
“A landmark decision”
The agreement reached is the result of many years of talks between the IKEA concern, the Plenipotentiary for Victims of SED and the Union of Plenipotentiaries for Victims of Communist Tyranny (UOKG). Its chairman, Dieter Dombrowski, himself had to perform forced labor in a GDR prison in the 1970s. – Together we followed the path of explanation, and IKEA treated the victims equally – says the Berliner, who is satisfied with the plans for financial compensation.
This decision is – in his opinion – groundbreaking. – We hope that other companies will follow IKEA's example – he says.