My research focuses on Jewish children rescued from Czechoslovakia to Great Britain by the Barbican Mission to the Jews in 1939. Some children came from families of mixed German-Jewish origin and experienced a double trauma - divorce and stigmatization due to German and Jewish nationality. They also had to cope with the change of language and nationality and faced an identity crisis. Yet some of them want to share their testimonies. Sometimes they have to overcome a major block – to start talking. I try to help them by my personal testimony. At the first meeting, I am usually questioned what the reason for my research is. I explain both, professional and personal reasons – in particular the similarity of the story of these children with the story of my husband's family – which are of great interest to the witnesses. They ask me more questions, and for the moment we exchange our roles. Sharing my own personal reasons helps witnesses to share their testimonies and their testimonies also help me to understand my husband´s family better and to sensitively interpret the whole topic. This approach bridges the gap between two foreign people who met to share personal testimony. In some case I find it difficult as a researcher to publish some personal details, because I consider it hurtful for the witnesses. Meeting individual witnesses and closer understanding of my husband´s family history increased my personal empathy and respect to their privacy.
