Germany Sues Italy In Hague Over Massacre

Germany filed a lawsuit against Italy at the Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ), arguing that an Italian court erred in ordering Berlin to pay damages for a Nazi massacre during World War Two.

Germany is contesting an October ruling by Italy's top court ordering Germany to pay around 1 million euros ($1.4 million) in compensation to the families of nine victims killed by the German army in Civitella, Tuscany in 1944.

"In recent years, Italian judicial bodies have repeatedly disregarded the jurisdictional immunity of Germany as a sovereign state," Germany said in its application, announced by the court late on Tuesday.

The ICJ, set up in 1945, is a world court for disputes between nations.

Germany argues it should be immune from prosecution by private citizens, and allowing the ruling to stand could mean "hundreds of additional cases may be brought against it" by private individuals.

German also asked the ICJ to intervene if Italy moved to seize any state assets.