“It Just Permeated everything.” Third Generation Holocaust Survivor Perspectives Regarding the Genocide’s Impact on Family Functioning

Research into the intergenerational effects of the Holocaust has focused on traumatization of the survivors’ children, and has yet to explore adaptive responses in succeeding generations. In this study, 10 semi-structured interviews were conducted with Australian adult grandchildren of Holocaust survivors. Interpretive phenomenological analysis identified six themes: connection and discomfort with the Holocaust’s salience, reckoning with a legacy of trauma, insecurity and survival strategies, the value of a strong education, family is everything, and valuing a communal outlook. These findings imply that the Holocaust’s traumatizing effects linger for multiple generations, but responding in adaptive ways benefits relationships within survivor families.