Bidders — Jews of the Somme

Once a building was appraised it was advertised for sale in local and regional newpapers. “Israelite Building for Sale” was the way these advertisements were headed. One of the early properties put up for sale was a building owned by Leon Louria, 35 rue Pointin. It was appraised at 55.000 Francs on January 21,1942 by Thorel and Carpentier. It was purchased by one bidder for 76.177 Fr., but more than 40 persons submitted bids as individuals or as part of a couple. All in all several hundred people, most local, bid on Jewish properties in the Somme. Their names and addresses are recorded in many dossiers. The successful bidder had to demonstrate impeccable Aryan origins by producing a certificate of baptism and catholic marriage and a family tree proving no Jewish relations.