Table Of ContentHolocaust Trauma and Psychic
Deformation
Written by a survivor of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, this moving
and important book examines the massive psychic trauma suffered by a gener-
ation of Holocaust survivors. It not only providesboth an intimate and personal
reflection on these harrowing events, but also offers an in-depth, clinical per-
spectiveonanoften-misunderstoodphenomenon.
As a child during this period, the book begins by examining the author’s
own experience as a refugee in the aftermath of the Holocaust, the psycho-
logical impact of displacement after such traumatic events, and his attempt to
flee its damage through medical and psychoanalytic training. But the second
half of the book broadens the perspective to offer a clinical exploration of
the psychic effects of surviving the Holocaust. A range of concepts are
addressed and explored, from powerlessness and survivor guilt, to psychic
security and recovered memories. The book concludes by examining how
psychic trauma is processed, and the clinical implications for when disorders
emerge and dysfunction results.
An insightful and honest account of massive psychic trauma, this remark-
able book will resonate not only with those affected by or interested in the
experiences of Holocaust survivors, but also any clinical practitioner working
with clients who have experienced this type of intense trauma.
Alfred Garwood, asurvivorofBergen-Belsenconcentrationcamp,isaretired
Honorary Consultant Adult Psychotherapist, a general medical practitioner and
FounderoftheChildSurvivors’AssociationofGreatBritain.
Holocaust Trauma and
Psychic Deformation
fl
Psychoanalytic Re ections of a
Holocaust Survivor
Alfred Garwood
First published 2021
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, OxonOX14 4RN
and by Routledge
52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017
RoutledgeisanimprintoftheTaylor&FrancisGroup,aninformabusiness
©2021AlfredGarwood
The right of Alfred Garwood to be identified as author of this work
has been asserted by him in accordance withsections77and 78 ofthe
Copyright, Designsand PatentsAct 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may bereprinted or
reproduced orutilised in any formor by any electronic, mechanical, or
other means, now known orhereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval
system, without permissionin writing from the publishers.
Trademarknotice: Product or corporate names may be trademarksor
registered trademarks, and are used only foridentification and
explanationwithout intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-PublicationData
A catalogue record for this book isavailablefrom the BritishLibrary
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-PublicationData
A catalogrecord has beenrequested forthis book
ISBN: 978-0-367-51690-1 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-780-49188-2 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-05483-2 (ebk)
Typeset inBembo
by Swales & Willis, Exeter, Devon, UK
AphotoofmynuclearfamilyafewweeksafterourliberationbyRussian
cavalry.Mylegsarelessthantwofingersinwidthandmyfatherisonly
5feettall.Myfatheriswearingtheuniformtheygavetohimandheis
carryingme.Myemaciationandrickets-affectedlegs,aswellasthefacial
expressionsofmyparentsandsister,speakclearlyofourtraumatisedstate.
This book is dedicated to my parents and sister without whose
care and love I would not have survived. It is also dedicated to the
approximately 60 members of my family who were murdered in
the Holocaust and whose absence has created a psychic space that
still generates pain and longing. Last but not least, I dedicate this
book to my children who have been my greatest teachers and com-
fort in my latter years.
Contents
Acknowledgements ix
1 Introduction 1
2 Legacies 5
3 Thewarafter 20
4 Escape 37
5 Adaptationandmaladaptation 55
6 ChildsurvivorsoftheHolocaust:groupsandgroupings,
healingwounds 75
7 TheHolocaustandthepowerofpowerlessness:survivorguilt
anunhealedwound 97
8 Psychicsecurity:itsorigins,development,anddisruption 116
9 Life,death,andthepowerofpowerlessness 132
10 Inaccessiblememories:recoveredtraumaticmemories,true
andfalse 145
11 Psychicsurvivalmanagement:thepsychicguardianand
compartmentalisation 160
viii Contents
12 Functionaldisordersofthepsychicguardianandpathology:
clinicalimplications 177
Index 190
Acknowledgements
The biographical opening of this volume took many years to write due to the
emotionalpainitretained.Writingandrewritingitremindedmeoftheunique
rolemysister,Leonia,playedinprotectingandsupportingmeduringtheworst
yearsofmychildhood.Byunpredictabletwistsoffate,wefindourselvessharing
theselatestagesofourlives.Onceagain,wefindourselvesinmutuallysupport-
ive roles through life’s vicissitudes, for which I am immeasurably grateful.
Reflecting on my parents’ impact on my life, I am less troubled by their
destructive interactions and more forgiving and understanding of their inad-
equacies. Without my father’s heroism and resourcefulness and my mother’s
long-suffering tolerance of powerlessness, we would never have survived.
Wordscannotdescribeoradequatelyconveymygratitudetothemall.
I have been blessed with children who have grown into adults that are
not troubled by the same issues that I constantly struggle with. They gifted
me with grandchildren. Their capacity for playful, creative nurturing fills me
with admiration and amazement. I have learned to respect and admire who
they are and what they do. They have been my greatest teachers.
The mothers of my children have played unique and differing roles as
mothers and as partners. They made sacrifices and endured difficulties that
will never be forgotten.
OftheloyalfriendsthatdidnotabandonuswhenDianabecameillanddied,
Frances and Tony Eaton, godparents of my older daughters, have earned my
lifelonggratitude.
In the world of Holocaust survival, I must begin with the late child psy-
choanalyst Judith Kestenberg, who encouraged and supported me in those
early days of the emerging understanding of child survivors of the Holocaust.
During those heady days of founding the Child Survivors’ Association of
Great Britain and the London Holocaust Survivors’ Centre, Earl Hopper
played a unique role in offering guidance and support. He became my
group analyst, supporting me in my personal and professional life. Only
those that have benefited from his deep core of compassion, as well as the
unique intellect and wisdom he brings to his therapy, will understand how
much I owe him. The World Federation of Jewish Child Survivors of the
