The Path to Atonement: West Germany and Israel after the Holocaust

Summary

Atonement comprises a state’s official apology and reparations payments to another state for imposing on it mass atrocities, war crimes, and human rights abuses. A state has atoned only once: West Germany atoned to Israel for the Holocaust in 1952. Existing explanations identify the West German decision to atone for the Holocaust as an ethical choice or a domestic policy change growing from U.S. pressure. But atonement took place because it was a politically expedient option for both countries.