Forced laborer, 104, sues France at ECHR for unpaid wartime work

At 104 years old, Albert Corrieri has taken his case to the European Court of Human Rights, asserting that France owes him compensation for his time as a forced laborer during World War II. Corrieri was sent to Germany between 1943 and 1945 as part of the STO (Service du Travail Obligatoire), a program that conscripted French civilians for labor in Nazi Germany.

Corrieri's legal battle for payment for his forced labor has faced setbacks. In February 2025, the Marseille Court of Appeal dismissed his initial claim for compensation. This ruling prompted him to escalate the matter to the European Court of Human Rights, where he hopes to finally receive recognition and payment for his wartime service.

The STO program was a controversial aspect of the Vichy regime's collaboration with Nazi Germany. Thousands of young French men were compelled to work in German factories and industries, contributing to the Nazi war effort. Corrieri's case brings renewed attention to the unresolved issues and lingering injustices faced by former forced laborers decades after the war's end.