Strategies for Overcoming Childhood Traumatic Memories: The Experience of World War II

Abstract

The paper examines the potentially traumatic impact of a war childhood on the behavioral patterns in the later adult life. The sources include interviews conducted by the author for the War Childhood Museum, following a trauma-oriented approach to collecting oral history. To illustrate the relevance of the children’s experience, the Museum’s ethical principles during the Full-scale invasion, and the methodological approach to exhibitions based on the interviews are described. The intergenerational effects of war trauma on both collective memory and individual psychology is emphasized. Scientific research shows that traumatic events affect several subsequent generations on a physiological level. On the one hand, a high degree of stress is harmful to a species; while, on the other hand, making it more resilient. Thus, denizens of Ukraine are being influenced not only by the current ordeal but also by the cumulative impact of past wars and disasters. Two narratives by respondents born before World War II on the outskirts of Kharkiv were chosen as the focal point of the analysis. The experiences of these two women and the circumstances of their lives are compared. Particular attention is paid to their relationships with the parents (especially — mothers) and the role adults played in their stories — whether as protectors or an additional source of danger. The narratives of Marfa and Vera, though different in tone, illustrate various ways of adaptation to a traumatic reality. Marfa dwells on her painful memories, while Vera tries to reinterpret hers in a positive light. In the context of the current war, this article, hopefully, will help to understand the challenges faced by Ukrainian children and their families, as it includes practical advice on adapting to the present circumstances.