Jozef Domanski, at the age of 14, was taken into forced labor by the Nazis in Germany in 1941. He relocated to the UK post-war, residing in Wolverhampton and later Essex. Unfortunately, Jozef lost contact with his family in Poland, only maintaining communication through letters. His correspondence dwindled after a workplace injury in 1976, with the last known contact in the early 2000s.
Despite efforts to locate him, his family was unsuccessful. Jozef passed away in 2012 at the age of 86, unmarried and childless. Approximately 85 years after his capture, his family has inherited his £100,000 estate following a lengthy international legal inquiry involving the UK, Germany, and Poland.
Krzysztof Sadowski, Jozef’s nephew and family representative, expressed how Jozef frequently corresponded with his mother, Helena, from the mid-1970s, expressing his longing for Poland and his family. Despite attempts by family members to find him, all efforts were in vain.
The breakthrough occurred when a UK local authority engaged Finders International to trace Jozef’s heirs. Over a decade of legal and genealogical work ensued, requiring collaboration among experts from the three countries involved.
The investigation, led by Benjamin Ratz of GEN SPZOO, involved extensive cooperation and eventually led to reconnecting Jozef with his family. The £100,000 inheritance will be distributed among surviving relatives, with Krzysztof planning to honor his grandparents’ memory by dedicating a portion of the funds to them.
Antoine Djikpa, Chairman of the IAPPR, highlighted the lasting impact of war trauma on families, emphasizing the significance of restoring Jozef’s name, history, and family connections as a form of justice and accountability, even after many years.
