A new book, based on a decade-long study of previously unseen archive documents, sheds light on the troubling history of Jewish families in Paris during and after World War II. The authors, Sarah Gensburger, Isabelle Backouche, and Eric Le Bourhis, meticulously examine the behavior of Parisians confronted with the persecution of Jews, revealing that the plight of Jewish families extended far beyond mere deportation. Their research documents how approximately 25,000 Jewish families were barred from returning to their homes after the war, highlighting a dark chapter in the city's history.
From June 1940, when Nazi forces occupied Paris, Jewish families faced the systematic seizure of their properties. This book delves into the experiences of individuals such as Hélène Malowanczyk, who, along with her daughters, was forced to flee their home after her husband was deported. Despite surviving the horrors of the war, Malowanczyk was denied the right to return to her apartment in 1946. Instead, her home was occupied by the Pescheteau family, who remained there until 1956.
Through individual stories like that of the Malowanczyks, the authors illustrate a wider narrative—the collective experiences of Jewish families who were systematically stripped of their homes and rights. The book argues that moving into Jewish homes became a normalized behavior among Parisians. This attitude was not limited to overtly antisemitic individuals; rather it encompassed ordinary citizens who were encouraged by public authorities to take over these vacated properties.
The research reveals that French officials maintained that non-Jewish families displaced by bombings or other wartime damages needed housing. Gensburger notes, “Everyone was convinced that they were finished. Even when the Jewish tenants were still paying their rent.” This mindset allowed for a widespread appropriation of Jewish homes, often with little regard for the original occupants who had been forcibly removed.
In addition to individual narratives, the authors emphasize the collective importance of these stories. They argue that understanding this history is vital for both Jewish families and society at large. Gensburger states, “We are talking about ordinary people, who were not collaborators or raging antisemites, but who were encouraged to appropriate these apartments by the politics of the public authorities.”
The book also addresses a significant oversight in historical recognition: while discussions about the spoliation of artworks and other valuables have received attention, the loss of homes has largely gone unacknowledged. The estimated 200,000 Jews living in and around Paris at the outbreak of World War II were predominantly renters, further complicating their displacement and loss.
The authors' use of archival documents uncovers letters revealing Parisians’ enthusiasm to benefit from the persecution of Jews for housing purposes. “The letters received, now in the national archives, allow us to see the enthusiasm of the Parisians to profit from the persecution of Jews in order to satisfy their expectations in terms of housing,” they note.
The book's findings challenge long-held perceptions about French complicity during the Holocaust. It scrutinizes the role played by French authorities in facilitating the persecution and subsequent eviction of Jewish families from their homes. This examination serves as a reminder of the complexities and moral ambiguities surrounding everyday actions during wartime.