A Final Solution with No End?

The Transgenerational Effect of the Holocaust

Following the Holocaust many survivors attempted to reestablish their lives by starting new families and creating new foundations and roots. Unfortunately, for some survivors, separating the painful memories of their past from their present family life was a difficult and emotionally straining task. Many survivors did not want to burden their children with the memories of the past, and instead remained silent in the hopes of protecting their children’s wellbeing (Abrams, 1999; Fossion, et al., 2003). However, though the stories of the past remained silent, implicit messages were generally still conveyed. The child’s lack of understanding of their parent’s struggle was not simply forgotten, but instead, replaced by childhood fantasies depicting atrocities that were, in many cases, more severe than the actual past experience. Therefore, although the intent by parental survivors was to protect their children, maintaining silence and secrecy ultimately lead to an exacerbation of other troubling areas in family life (Krell, et al., 2004).

For Holocaust survivors, their children were a representation of survival. The second generation reassured survivors that their conflict was ending and their life would continue (Fossion, et al., 2003). The loss of their own security and belongings in the past, led survivors to seek a life for their children filled with the utmost security (van IJzendoorn, et al., 2003). However, parent’s often conveyed an image of imminent daily danger to their children, and implemented a series of restrictive consequences. Without the explicit knowledge of why their parent’s were so overly protective, due to the practice of silence regarding the past, children of Holocaust survivors learned to be hypervigilant and anxious leading to difficulties in separation and individuation (Krell, et al., 2004).

Furthermore, children of Holocaust survivors’ worries and anxieties were often met with a lack of interest, compassion, or understanding. Second generation children learned that their problems were trivial in comparison to those of their parents. Parent’s understanding of what should be considered problematic was based on the experience of the Holocaust; therefore, the complaints and issues of their children seemed minute and insignificant. As a result, children learned to consider their own problems as such (Krell, et al., 2004).

Additionally, many Holocaust survivors experienced what is known as “sequential traumatization,” which describes the repeated trauma and stress that accumulated before, during, and after the Holocaust (van IJzendoorn, et al., 2003). In order to survive the constant threat to daily living and functioning, many Holocaust survivors were forced to become numb to their own pain and turn away from their emotional responses. The lack of empathy and compassion carried over into their relationships with their spouses and children. While many second generation children noted an understanding that their parents loved them, they perceived an overall lack of compassion and affect in displaying that love, and in sympathy toward their various wants and needs (Krell, et al., 2004).

Feelings of helplessness and vulnerability are prominent amongst second generation children. The lack of emotional openness and willingness to connect by parents was mitigated through focus on personal and academic achievement. Extreme importance was placed on the value of education, occupational advancement, and the importance of continuing the family. Children may have felt responsible for their parent’s sadness or deficiency of emotional support, and would try to please their parents by excelling in the areas of life in which their parents placed value. However, despite accomplishment in any or all of these areas, children of Holocaust survivors often felt unfulfilled due to lack of emotional praise and contact. Many children were unable to understand the paradox of wanting to please their parents, while resenting their lack of affective attachment. Feelings of guilt and anger were often the result, lasting through adulthood and carrying over into other relationships and connections (Fossion, et al., 2003).