Healing Holocaust Survivors
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Stella Maria Frei
About this book
Healing Holocaust Survivors examines the psychological rehabilitation strategies implemented by two major international humanitarian organizations—the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) and the Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)—in Displaced Persons Camps across postwar Europe from 1944 to 1948. Focusing on the mental health needs of Holocaust survivors and other refugees, the book explores how psychosocial expertise became entangled with citizenship, politics, and visions of Europe's reconstruction after World War II.
Drawing from archival sources, institutional reports, and psychological literature of the period, this is the first in-depth account of how mental health professionals approached psychological rehabilitation, trauma, identity, and recovery in a humanitarian setting. It reveals how psychological strategies were often shaped by, and instrumentalized for, broader political and regulatory goals—including refugee resettlement, nation-building, and international diplomacy.
Bridging the fields of history, psychology, refugee studies, and humanitarian aid, this book sheds new light on the origins of modern refugee mental health practices and the complex role of international organizations in shaping the lives—and minds—of displaced populations.
“A powerful and timely study on the politics of psychological rehabilitation in the aftermath of war and mass displacement. This meticulously researched book sheds new light on how international organizations not only helped rebuild societies, but also intervened in the inner lives of survivors. It compellingly shows that psychological recovery in post-conflict settings is never apolitical, but shaped by humanitarian agendas, strategic interests, and competing visions of international order. Essential reading for global leaders, policymakers, and all who shape the future of refugee protection and recovery in a world defined by crisis.” - Bert Koenders, Professor for Peace, Justice and Security, Leiden University; Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and UN Special Representative in Côte d'Ivoire and Mali.
Author / Editor information
Topics
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Frontmatter
I -
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Contents
XI -
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1 Introduction
1 - UNRRA – The Road Back to “Normality”?
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Introduction
46 -
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2 UNRRA as a New Beginning in Humanitarian Aid?
49 -
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3 Planning the Road Home Prior to War’s End
62 -
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4 Negotiating National Belonging
145 - JDC – Paving the Path Toward a New Homeland
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Introduction
186 -
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5 The Evolution of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee in Postwar Europe
189 -
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6 Surveying Jewish Displaced Children
201 -
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7 Measuring Adaptability
251 -
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8 Healing the Wounds of DPs, Healing the World?
297 -
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Epilogue
304 -
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Acknowledgements
307 -
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Abbreviations
310 -
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Glossary
311 -
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Bibliography
312 -
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List of Sources
329 -
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Index
336
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Manufacturer information:
Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Genthiner Straße 13
10785 Berlin
productsafety@degruyterbrill.com
