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Liechtenstein's banks "helped Holocaust victims"

August 18, 2009 09:56
liechtenstein

ByJessica Elgot, Jessica Elgot

1 min read

The Prince of Liechtenstein has outraged Jews in Germany by apparently using the Holocaust to defend its secretive banking practices.

Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein, 64, slammed the German government for putting pressure on the alpine principality to clamp down on wealthy Germans who use the confidential Lichtenstein banking system to evade taxes.

The prince claimed many Jews had been saved during the Holocaust because they were able to buy their safety using secret bank accounts.

He said: "We and Switzerland saved many people, especially Jews, with banking secrecy. Germany should clean up its own act, and think about its past.