The Experience of the Jewish Family in the Nazi Ghetto: Kovno—A Case Study

Abstract

The intention of Hitler and his regime was the destruction of the Jewish people: their social and familial structures. Jews were separated from their families and friends as the Nazis carried out their policies of murder. The Nazi ghetto was the “last place” in which the traditional family structure was maintained. This article discusses the gradual disintegration of the family unit through the separation, deportation, and death of its members. Yet despite this physical assault on family life in the ghetto, it becomes clear that the ghetto inhabitants still maintained an “emotional” family life and built new surrogate family structures. For many, belonging to a group was an emotional as well as physical requirement for attempting to “survive” in the ghetto. Often, the family structure reversed the Nazis’ policies of degradation and attempted dehumanization of their Jewish victims. It could not, however, reverse their murders.

Spatial social networks for the humanities: A visualization and analytical model

“…One especially meaningful difference is between the nuclear and the extended family, as both are of interest in our research. Johnson (2000, p. 625) defines the nuclear family as "a married couple and dependent children," and the extended family As is to be expected, the topic of the family, and in particular family separations and the loss of family members, is central in the narrative of Holocaust survivors (Cohen, 2006;Cole, 2015;von Joeden-Forgey, 2010). The Holocaust disrupted and destroyed many families, so in the aftermath of the genocide, individuals increasingly relied on-and lived with-extended family members to palliate the disappearance of nuclear family members.…”

“…As is to be expected, the topic of the family, and in particular family separations and the loss of family members, is central in the narrative of Holocaust survivors (Cohen, 2006; Cole, 2015; von Joeden‐Forgey, 2010). The Holocaust disrupted and destroyed many families, so in the aftermath of the genocide, individuals increasingly relied on—and lived with—extended family members to palliate the disappearance of nuclear family members.…”

The experiences of refugee youth from the conflicts in the Sudan: A collective case study

“…Tec saw this effort as exemplifying the universal need among people in extreme situations for cooperation and mutual care. In Cohen's (2006) article, "The Experiences of the Jewish Family in the Nazi Ghetto: Kovno -A Case Study," she discussed the gradual disintegration of the family unit through the separation, deportation, and death of its members. Yet in spite of the physical assault on the family life in the ghetto, the inhabitants still maintained an "emotional" family life and created a surrogate family (Cohen, 2006).…”

“…Often the surrogate family reversed the Nazi's policies of degradation and dehumanization of the inhabitants. For many, belonging to a group was an emotional as well as physical requirement for survival (Cohen, 2006).…”