On the 12th of February of this year, the CIVS examined the claim concerning the spoliations suffered by Georges Mandel, minister of the Third Republic, member of the Resistance and assassinated by the French Milice. The recommendation adopted by the Commission will allow the restitution of three books held by German institutions.

In 2018, the CIVS began working with cultural foundation Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz, an organization related to the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin (State Library of Berlin), which is also linked to the SLUB Dresden (Dresden University Library). Thanks to their research, three books stolen from Georges Mandel’s library were identified. The books (De l’Alsace à la Flandre. Le mysticisme linguistique – René Gillouin, 1930 ; Syrie terre irrédente. L’histoire secrète du traité franco-syrien – Marcel Homet, 1938 ; Air-Afrique. Voie impériale – Gaston Bergery) include handwritten inscriptions and are addressed by the authors to Georges Mandel.

This case reflects the current cooperation between the CIVS and many German public institutions.

Between five and ten million books were taken from France during the Occupation. Martine Poulain’s database on looted books on the CIVS website.