Understanding The Strength of Survivors of The World War II Holocaust

There are many types of human bravery and courage. For survivors of atrocities, theirs is often an under-observed and less recognized courage. This is especially true with victims of war.

World War II Survivors

Of all the wars in recent history, one of the most heinous atrocities was World War II. This is especially true for the Jewish people who survived the destruction of their communities. For survivors, the task of coping has been filled with substantial uphill battles. The stories they must tell are often harrowing. Many lost significant numbers of loved ones, neighbors, and friends.

Resilience and How Holocaust Survivors Survived

People who are survivors of war atrocities like World War II are well known to carry extraordinary resilience. When people ask how holocaust survivors survived, the answer is often considerably different for each person.

Several important common things are known to have compelled survivors. The will to survive to see loved ones again is one of the biggest catalysts. But others have an intense survival mechanism built within them. While some feel immense loss and survivor’s guilt, others say they have carried a deep resolve to tell their stories to ensure history never repeats itself.

The rise of Hitler was fueled by hatred towards people of Jewish heritage because of economic disparities in Germany. Hitler was able to blame the Jews for the suffering of Germans which led to anti-Semitism. Many of the most vocal survivors speak out wherever they can to shed light on the horrible atrocities of genocide.

You can learn more about survivors of the Holocaust, ZACHOR Holocaust Remembrance Foundation, founded by Survivor Ben Lesser at www.zachorfoundation.org.