About 1945 The Story
We help families discover their history and restore the legacies that time, war, and distance once obscured.
1945 The Story is a heritage research firm dedicated to one purpose: helping descendants of Holocaust survivors and European Jewish families uncover the stories of those who came before them. We believe that every name, every photograph, and every document recovered is a small but vital act of restoration.
Who We Are
Founded by Matan Leker, an Israeli attorney with a deep personal commitment to memory and legacy, our team is comprised of professional genealogists, historians, translators, and legal experts. We specialize specifically in the nuances of European Jewish heritage.
Our researchers bridge the gap between families and the major archives of Holocaust history, including:
- Yad Vashem
- Arolsen Archives
- JewishGen
- USC Shoah Foundation
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM)
- Country-specific registries across Europe
Language is often the greatest barrier to discovery. Our team is fluent in the languages of the original records: German, Polish, Yiddish, Hebrew, Russian, Romanian, and Hungarian.
What Makes Us Different
In an era of automated data, we remain committed to the human element.
- Verified Research: We do not use AI to generate research findings or produce reports based on guesswork.
- Authentic Records: We never present invented or AI-generated documents as historical.
- Human Oversight: Every finding is sourced from a verified archive, examined by a human researcher, and peer-reviewed before delivery.
Accuracy is important in any field, but in the preservation of family history, it is sacred. When the trail goes cold, we tell you. When records contradict, we explain why. When painful truths surface, we share them with the care and dignity your family deserves.
Our Promise
When you trust us with your family’s story, we treat it with the same reverence and dedication we would our own.