No one but Jews lost their apartments': how homes taken by Nazis in wartime Paris were never given back

The article discusses the tragic history of the Malowanczyk family, Jewish residents of Paris during the Nazi occupation. After the war, Helene Malowanczyk returned to find their apartment occupied and their possessions gone. As highlighted in the new book 'Homes as Witnesses of the Holocaust,' many Jewish survivors faced similar challenges, with French authorities often refusing them the right to reclaim their homes. This situation sheds light on the broader indifference towards the returning Jewish residents, as reflected in the reactions of those who occupied their properties during the war.

As indicated by our findings, the occupants of Jewish homes often displayed a lack of sympathy, with many expressing disappointment when the original tenants returned.

The book reveals how the Malowanczyk family’s plight was representative of a broader issue, where countless Jews were systematically denied the right to return to their homes.

Read at www.theguardian.com