Berlin – May 28, 2026: In a solemn ceremony held at the French Embassy in Berlin, Germany returned seven books to the family of historian and resistance member Marc Bloch. These books were stolen by the Nazis from Bloch’s private library in 1942. The return was carried out jointly by the public libraries of Berlin, Frankfurt, and Greiz, marking an important step forward in historical reparations and cultural exchange between Germany and France.
Marc Bloch, born in Lyon in 1886, was recognized as one of the most famous medieval history experts of his time and a co-founder of the highly influential Annales School, which had a profound impact on historiography. During World War II, Bloch actively participated in the French resistance movement. In 1944, he was arrested by the Gestapo and shortly thereafter executed. His wife Simone Vidal also passed away soon after. These books are part of his extensive collection, encompassing works from both France and Germany.
The return of the books took place just weeks before Marc Bloch is to be honored at the Panthéon in Paris on June 23, 2026. There, his lifelong work will be commemorated and his contributions to French history and culture highlighted. The returned books will henceforth be housed at the Halphen Library at the Panthéon-Sorbonne University in Paris, which specializes in medieval studies.
German Minister of Culture Wolfram Wemer called this return “a significant acknowledgment of a historical injustice.” French Ambassador to Germany François de Lattre emphasized the symbolic significance of the return, calling it a mark of the close friendship between Germany and France.
This return is part of a broader process aimed at restituting cultural properties looted during Nazi rule across Europe. Historians and library staff from both countries are actively identifying stolen, transferred, or lost works and returning them to their rightful owners or descendants. It is estimated that between five and ten million books were stolen during the French war period alone.
Marc Bloch’s grandson Mathis Bloch expressed deep emotion about the return: “This restitution protects my grandfather’s legacy and is a powerful symbol of European reconciliation and cooperation.” For the family, the return is not only the recovery of books but also a symbolic act of healing and remembrance for the suffering endured during the war.
The return of these collections to the Bloch family underscores the responsibility to face the past and acknowledge historical injustice, while also highlighting the importance of education, science, and culture as bridges between nations. This return marks another important milestone on the path of jointly protecting and passing on Europe’s cultural heritage.
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