Berlin – 28.05.2026: In a solemn ceremony at the French Embassy in Berlin, Germany handed over seven books to the family of the historian and resistance fighter Marc Bloch. The works were stolen from Bloch’s private library by the Nazis in 1942. The return took place through the city libraries of Berlin, Frankfurt, and Greiz and marks an important step in historical restitution and cultural exchange between Germany and France.
Marc Bloch, born in 1886 in Lyon, was one of the most recognized medieval historians of his time and co-founder of the influential Annales school, which has permanently shaped the discipline of history. During World War II, Bloch was active in the French resistance. In 1944, he was arrested by the Gestapo and shortly thereafter executed. His wife, Simonne Vidal, died shortly afterwards. The books were part of his extensive collection, which included both French and German works.
The return of the books takes place a few weeks before the planned induction of Marc Bloch into the Panthéon in Paris on June 23, 2026. There, his life’s work will be honored and his contribution to French history and culture emphasized. The handed-over books will henceforth be kept in the Bibliothèque Halphen at the University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, an institution specializing in medieval studies.
German Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer called the return a “meaningful recognition of historical injustice.” The French Ambassador to Germany, François Delattre, emphasized the symbolic value of the return as a sign of close Franco-German friendship.
This return is part of an extensive process of restitution of cultural goods stolen during the Nazi dictatorship in Europe. Historians and librarians from both countries work closely together to identify and return stolen, abducted, or presumed lost works to their rightful owners or heirs. It is estimated that in France alone five to ten million books were stolen during the war.
Mathis Bloch, grandson of Marc Bloch, expressed being deeply moved by this gesture: “The return preserves my grandfather’s heritage and is a powerful signal of European reconciliation and cooperation.” For the family, the return not only means regaining books but also a symbolic act of healing and remembrance of the suffering experienced during the war.
The reunion of these works with the Bloch family highlights the responsibility to face the past and acknowledge historical injustices. At the same time, it shows the importance of education, science, and culture as bridges between nations. The transfer marks a new milestone on the path to jointly preserving and protecting Europe’s cultural heritage.