Jozef Domanski was only 14 years old when he was taken by the Nazis and compelled to work in Germany in 1941. Upon his release at the war’s end, Jozef relocated to the UK, residing first in Wolverhampton and later in Essex.
Tragically, Jozef never reunited with his family in Poland, maintaining contact solely through written correspondence. Communication dwindled after a workplace accident in 1976, with the last known contact occurring in the early 2000s.
Despite efforts to locate him, his family could not reach him. Jozef passed away in 2012 at the age of 86, unmarried and childless. Approximately 85 years after his capture, his family inherited his £100,000 estate following a lengthy international legal process involving the UK, Germany, and Poland.
His nephew and family representative, Krzysztof Sadowski, collaborated with probate researchers and lawyers in the search for Jozef’s heirs. Krzysztof shared that Jozef often expressed melancholy about Poland and his separation from family in letters to his sister, Helena.
The quest to find Jozef’s relatives spanned over a decade and required cooperation among experts from three countries. Finders International, a prominent probate research firm in the UK, played a pivotal role in reconnecting Jozef’s family.
The inheritance will be distributed among surviving family members, with Krzysztof intending to honor his grandparents by dedicating a portion to them. He plans to memorialize Jozef by placing his photo and details on their graves.
Antoine Djikpa, Chairman of the International Association of Professional Probate Researchers (IAPPR), highlighted the lasting impact of war trauma on families. Restoring Jozef’s name and family connections, even posthumously, serves as a form of justice and underscores the importance of accountability across generations.