- WARSAW, Poland: Polish officials say France has pledged 5 million euro ($6.5 million) to help preserve the site of the former Nazi German death camp of Auschwitz, which badly needs repairs.
The Auschwitz-Birkenau state museum said Tuesday that French Prime Minister Francois Fillon pledged the money to a “Perpetual Fund” that is to pay for preserving the barracks, gas chambers and belongings of the more than 1 million victims of the camp.
France’s contribution will be made available between 2012 and 2017 and it raises the funds available to euro 97 million ($127 million). Some euro 23 million ($30 million) is still being sought.
Previously, the governments of Germany, Austria, Israel, the United States and Poland have contributed money to the fund.



