Researching the Narrative of the Holocaust

As a follow-up to making the film, I am preparing a research paper on the complex inter-relationships between surviving childhood trauma and telling one's story whilst growing up adrift in Europe after World War II.

The relief of Jewish survivors was palpable as the Allies and Soviets advanced on Germany and they were liberated. However, many forget that they often had no homes or families to return to, that survivors often did not know the fate of children, parents, brothers, sisters or other family and friends. Also, in the chaos that followed, and deep in hiding, many survivors did not realize immediately that the war was over or what lay in store.

Further, Jewish Child Survivors were amongst many orphans and stranded survivors as national borders were being redrawn and governments re-established. It would be many years before the survivors of the War would find permanent homes and even feel 'at home'.

Meanwhile, in Europe and across the world, people were finally confronted with the unmistakable reality of the Holocaust (until then, despite the news, there was much denial) and society was trying to come to grips with what happened and what it meant.