Surviving Guilt

Following the Holocaust, many survivors questioned why they had been spared when so many of their family, friends, and neighbors had perished.  Similarly, survivors of other types of catastrophes (e.g., September 11th, 2004 Southeast Asia tsunami) also expressed feelings of guilt for having survived.  Why do you think people have this reaction?  Do you think such feelings influence how survivors go on to live their lives?  If so, how?  (Think about Walter’s testimony from our field trip). (Echoes and Reflections)

People who have been through so much and survived don’t always have a positive reaction due to knowing others who had not had the chance to survive . Those who may have done exactly the same as the people who were able to stay around or maybe they did more. For example people who died could have been like apart or the Partisans who had escaped, hid in the forest, and fought back the Nazis but didn't get the chance to survive while Jews who had just listened were able to survive. They may begin to believe that they don’t matter because they didn't fight back any of the Nazis and that there  stories weren't meaningful and/or interesting. The Jews probably reacted like this because they think that they didn't do anything worthy of them being alive when possible friends or family members could have fought back the Nazis and passed away. I think it does influence with what they do to go on with their lives. I think the people that do survive feel that it was left up to them to tell the stories of the Holocaust and what had happened to the people who weren't able to stick around long enough to tell their own stories of what had happened.