Window onto history
A wallet or a watch suddenly turns up out of the blue. And sometimes a story that nobody knew anything about: What do children and grandchildren feel when they hold these memories in their hands?
Jewelry, photos, papers – the Nazis confiscated all the victims’ personal belongings on their arrest. Several thousand of these items from the concentration camps still exist today. We search for the victims’ families and return these things to them.
A wallet or a watch suddenly turns up out of the blue. And sometimes a story that nobody knew anything about: What do children and grandchildren feel when they hold these memories in their hands?
#StolenMemory was launched in 2016. With the help of volunteers, we are trying to trace the relatives of victims of Nazi persecution. Because their personal belongings do not belong to the archive, they are just stored there.
The Nazis used the word “effects” to describe inmates’ belongings. What does it mean and why do these objects still exist?
to the history of the effectsSome 2,500 envelopes containing various objects are still waiting to be returned to the families of the victims. Here you can find photos and 3D scans of some “effects” and the names of their owners.
To find all the names and see all the objects, go to our online archive
We are the most comprehensive archive on the victims of Nazi persecution. We have been collecting information, researching fates, and reuniting families since 1948. Now, we also develop concepts for research and education work. We use new digital formats to help keep the memory of the victims alive.
Our website can tell you more about the work we do. And about how you can help us to keep memories and keep history alive.
Arolsen ArchivesWhy not do some research yourself? More than 26 million documents can currently be found in our online archive.
Online archive
We need you! In the worldwide search for the families of the victims, we depend on the help of volunteers who know the local area and can research on the spot.
Join in