L’invention d’une politique de restitution en France en 1944‑1945 et l’action décisive du professeur Émile Terroine

Abstract

First, the paper gives a brief history of the essential part played by professor Terroine in the definition of the restitution of properties stolen to Jews at the regional and national levels. This allows the reader to grasp the originality of the action defined and led by professor Terroine. In a second part, Professor Terroine’s life is described, especially (but not exclusively) the period he spent in Lyon and the very peculiar context in which he acted at the Liberation. At last, through tiny clues, one tries to understand why and how this professor of physiology could become the architect of the restitution and, once his job done, return to his research activity without ever mentioning the tremendous work he had accomplished.

Keywords

• ‘Jewish Goods’
• Spoliations
• Lootings
• Restitutions
• Compensation
• Repair