Berlin – 28.05.2026: In a festive ceremony at the French Embassy in Berlin, Germany handed over seven books to the family of historian and French Resistance fighter Marc Bloch. These works were stolen by the Nazis in 1942 from Bloch’s private library. The return was facilitated by the city libraries of Berlin, Frankfurt, and Greiz and marks an important step in the process of historical rehabilitation and cultural exchange between Germany and France.
Marc Bloch, born in 1886 in Lyon, was one of the most recognized medievalists of his time and a co-founder of the influential Annales School, which significantly influenced historiography. During World War II, he actively participated in the French Resistance. In 1944, Bloch was arrested by the Gestapo and soon executed. His wife, Simone Vidal, died shortly thereafter. The books were part of his large collection, which included both French and German works.
The return of the books took place a few weeks before the planned inclusion of Marc Bloch in the Paris Pantheon on June 23, 2026. There, his lifelong contributions will be honored and his significance for French history and culture emphasized. The handed-over books will be kept in the Galphen Library at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, an institution specializing in medieval studies.
Germany’s Minister of Culture, Wolfram Weimer, described the return as an “important recognition of historical injustice.” The French Ambassador to Germany, François Delattre, emphasized the symbolic significance of the return as a sign of close Franco-German friendship.
This return is part of a broad process of restitution of cultural valuables stolen during the Nazi dictatorship in Europe. Historians and librarians from both countries are working diligently to identify stolen, exported, or lost works and return them to their rightful owners or their heirs. It is estimated that in France alone, between five and ten million books were stolen during the war.
Mattis Bloch, grandson of Marc Bloch, expressed deep emotion about this gesture: “The return preserves my grandfather’s legacy and is a powerful sign of European reconciliation and cooperation.” For the family, this transfer is not only the restoration of books but also a symbolic act of healing and remembrance of the sufferings they endured during the war.
The reunification of these works with the Bloch family underscores responsibility in the face of the past and recognition of historical injustices. It also highlights the importance of education, science, and culture as bridges between peoples. This transfer is another important step on the path to jointly preserving and protecting Europe’s cultural heritage.
Dieser Artikel wurde mit Hilfe künstlicher Intelligenz erstellt.