cover of episode Germany’s Traumatized Kriegskinder Speak Out

Germany’s Traumatized Kriegskinder Speak Out

2023/5/9
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Burkhardt Bilger
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Sabine Bode
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Burkhardt Bilger：作为二战德国儿童（Kriegskinder）的后代，Bilger 探讨了父母一代人背负的战争罪责感以及由此带来的沉默和压抑。他以自身家族史为例，讲述了祖父作为纳粹党员的经历，以及母亲在面对家族历史时所表现出的回避和恐惧。Bilger 的研究揭示了 Kriegskinder 在面对历史真相时的复杂情感和心理挣扎，以及他们试图理解和处理家族历史的漫长过程。他强调了战争创伤的代际传递，以及后代在面对家族历史时所面临的挑战。 Sabine Bode：作为一名记者，Bode 长期致力于研究 Kriegskinder 的创伤经历。她指出，德国社会长期以来对战争创伤的沉默和回避，以及 Kriegskinder 在面对自身经历时所表现出的麻木和压抑。Bode 的研究通过大量访谈，揭示了 Kriegskinder 遭受的各种创伤，包括空袭、失去亲人、以及目睹战争暴行等。她强调了理解和承认这些创伤的重要性，并介绍了 Familienaufstellung 等家族疗法在帮助 Kriegskinder 处理创伤方面所起到的作用。Bode 还指出，战争创伤并非德国独有，而是普遍存在的社会问题。 Sabine Bode：Bode 的研究深入探讨了二战德国儿童（Kriegskinder）的创伤经历，以及他们如何应对战争带来的心理创伤。她通过访谈揭示了 Kriegskinder 在战争期间遭受的各种创伤，以及他们成年后如何处理这些创伤。Bode 的研究强调了战争创伤的长期影响，以及理解和承认这些创伤的重要性。她还介绍了 Familienaufstellung 等家族疗法在帮助 Kriegskinder 处理创伤方面所起到的作用，并指出战争创伤是普遍存在的社会问题，并非德国独有。

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Burkhard Bilger discusses his new book, 'Fatherland', which explores the history of his own family, including his parents who were Kriegskinder, children of war born in 1935.

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A troubling question looms over the Kriegskinder, Germans who were children during the Second World War: Was my father a mass murderer? These innocent Germans carried the guilt of their nation while their families often remained silent. The New Yorker’s Burkhard Bilger), whose grandfather was a Nazi, speaks with Sabine Bode, a journalist who encourages the now-elderly Kriegskinder to speak about their unacknowledged trauma. Bilger’s new book, “Fatherland: A Memoir of War, Conscience, and Family Secrets),” chronicles his years-long quest to understand the truth behind his family history. 

This segment originally aired October 14, 2016.