Decision due on huge Nazi archive
The files contain personal data on
millions of the Nazis＇ victims
Eleven countries who share custody of the vast German archive documenting Nazi war crimes are expected to agree to open it up to public access.
Legal experts from the countries are currently meeting in Luxembourg to finalise details for the plan.
The 47 million files hold Nazi records of forced labourers, concentration camp victims and political prisoners.
They have been used to help people trace their relatives, but were kept closed to protect victims＇ privacy.
Now, many people feel the files should be opened to historical researchers to ensure the details of the Holocaust are not forgotten.
Personal information
The archive is administered by the International Tracing Service (ITS), an arm of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
ITS spokeswoman Maria Raabe said the 11 countries responsible for the service may decide to impose rules on researchers＇ access, to ensure the privacy of victims continues to be protected.
"Should they for example give a written undertaking that they will not take down the names of the victims? It is one of the solutions envisioned, but it is up to the 11 states to decide," she told the AFP news agency.
The Nazis recorded everything - from the number of lice on a prisoner＇s head to the exact moment of their execution.
There is very personal information too - the names of collaborators, homosexuals and prostitutes.
A decision, from officials from Germany, Belgium, Britain, France, Israel, Italy, Greece, Luxembourg, Poland, The Netherlands and the US, is expected later on Tuesday.
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