East German Soldiers Get Compensation for Radar Sickness

The German Defense Ministry has recognized claims from five former East German soldiers, who allegedly became ill from the effects of radar beams used during their military service. The Berlin lawyers who handled the suits said their clients would receive around €300 ($386) per month for at least five years. The Defense Ministry reported that 1,094 professional soldiers and conscripts who served in the East German army had applied for compensation. The majority of the claims won't be recognized, however, since no connection between the illness and the work with radars has been proved, a ministry spokeswoman told the German news agency DPA. Still, other former soldiers, in addition to the five, would have their claims recognized, she said, without indicating how many. The former soldiers suffer from cancer, leukemia and cataracts.