Belgian Railway NMBS Sued Over WWII Deportation Role

A Jewish foundation has filed a lawsuit against Belgian railway company NMBS and the Belgian state in Brussels, demanding compensation for the company’s role in organizing deportation trains during the Nazi occupation of World War II. The Stichting Nico Gunzburg (Nico Gunzburg Foundation) is seeking both financial restitution and formal acknowledgment of responsibility for one of the darkest chapters in the railway’s history, as reported by VRT NWS.

Context: The Deportation Trains

Between August 4, 1942, and July 1944, 28 deportation convoys departed from the Dossinkazerne in Mechelen to the Auschwitz concentration and extermination camp in Poland. During this period, approximately 25,490 Jews and 353 Roma were transported via these trains. Of those deported, only about 1,195 people — roughly 4.6 percent — survived and returned after liberation in 1945. Additionally, 189,542 Belgian forced laborers and 16,081 political prisoners were also transported on the Belgian railway network during the war.

According to research by the CegeSoma study center, the NMBS received 51 million Belgian francs from the Nazi occupiers for organizing the deportation trains. Adjusted for inflation, that sum amounts to over €15 million today. The CegeSoma report, presented to the Belgian Senate on December 8, 2023, concluded that the NMBS management made mistakes and was blind to the consequences of cooperating with the Nazi regime. While the study acknowledged that the occupier would likely not have accepted outright opposition, it stated that the railway management could have delayed the deportations.

Promised Apologies That Never Came

In response to the CegeSoma findings, the Belgian federal government established a 12-member “Group of Wise Men” to make recommendations. In January 2025, the group submitted 30 recommendations, including that NMBS must offer official apologies. On January 24, 2025, the NMBS Board of Directors agreed in principle to issue an apology, pending approval from the Belgian state as majority shareholder.

In April 2025, as reported by VRT NWS, NMBS announced that it would officially apologize. The company also launched an exhibition titled “The Occupied NMBS, Between Collaboration and Resistance” at Train World, along with educational programs and a historical website. However, more than a year later, the official apologies have still not been delivered. NMBS states that it is waiting for approval from the Belgian government before proceeding.

The Lawsuit and Compensation Demand

The Nico Gunzburg Foundation, which represents Jewish interests, decided to take legal action after negotiations with NMBS and the government yielded no results. According to BRUZZ, the lawsuit demands a provisional compensation of €1, which could potentially rise to millions of euros.

Arthur Flieger, the foundation’s lawyer, was sharply critical of the delays. Speaking to Radio 1’s “De Ochtend,” he stated: “The NMBS received millions from the Nazis at the time. It’s logical that victims and survivors should get something back from that. We must be able to pursue full justice.” He added, “They want to wait until the victims and survivors are no longer alive.”

Flieger also highlighted the contrast with the Dutch Railways (NS), which has already paid approximately €50 million in compensation for its role in WWII deportations. The Belgian state is named in the lawsuit because it is the majority shareholder of NMBS, and the foundation argues that the state bears shared responsibility.

Analysis: Historical Accountability in Europe

This case places Belgium alongside other European nations grappling with the legacy of wartime collaboration by state-owned enterprises. The Dutch precedent demonstrates that financial compensation for wartime atrocities is possible decades after the events. The lawsuit also raises broader questions about the responsibility of modern corporations for actions taken by their predecessors under occupation.

Nico Gunzburg, the foundation’s namesake, was a Flemish legal scholar of Jewish origin who fled to the United States during the war and later helped prepare the Nuremberg Trials. His legacy lends weight to the foundation’s pursuit of legal recognition for victims.

What’s Next

The lawsuit was filed on July 29, 2026, in Brussels. According to the foundation, if the Belgian state and NMBS become willing to negotiate compensation, the legal process can be halted. NMBS has stated that it remains open to dialogue and has “fully cooperated with the scientific research,” but the foundation’s lawyer reports radio silence from the company. Court dates have not yet been announced.

As survivors and their families age, the case underscores the urgency of addressing historical injustices before it is too late. The outcome could set a significant precedent for other European railway companies and institutions confronting their wartime roles.