When World War II ended and the horrors of the Holocaust began to emerge, the focus was on the human cost, and seeking justice, retribution and answers for the survivors and bereaved families.

Then came the drive for reparations and restitution, which not only sought to compensate for the unimaginable suffering but also for the property seized by the Nazis.

And while many headlines have been made about valuable artworks – some worth millions – stolen from Jewish families, the story of millions of Jewish-owned books looted by Adolf Hitler’s forces is less familiar.

In their efforts to annihilate Jews and their culture, the Nazis stole books from European libraries, universities and other public and private collections across Europe.