Nazi Recruited Paper Restorers to Hunt Jews, Letters Show

New research reveals that paper restorers and bookbinders across Europe were systematically recruited by the Nazis and directly contributed to the Holocaust. A British historian discovered a program in the 1930s and 1940s where these specialists repaired centuries-old church and civil records. Their work made faded documents legible. The restored records were then used to detect people with Jewish ancestry. This information helped the Nazis compile lists of individuals for persecution. The research, based on uncovered letters, shows this was a widespread, organized effort. Historians state these restorers' specialized skills were weaponized for genocide.