If you are an English-speaking Kriegsenkel—someone whose parents were children in Germany during World War II, but who grew up in an English-speaking country—this space is for you.
The term Kriegsenkel was coined by journalist Sabine Bode to describe those who inherited the emotional and psychological impact of the war from their parents, who lived through the war as children (Kriegskinder). Many of us have struggled with feelings and family dynamics that seemed puzzling and inexplicable. Often, we experienced emotions that felt heavy or too extreme, as though carrying something that wasn’t entirely our own.
For years, these feelings existed without a clear framework, but for many, discovering the term Kriegsenkel was a profound turning point. As one person described it, “It was as if a veil was suddenly lifted from my eyes.” Suddenly, lifelong emotional struggles made sense. This recognition brought both relief and the desire to connect with others who share this unique generational experience.
Since 2010, Kriegsenkel in Germany have been meeting in support groups and workshops to explore their histories and find ways to work through their inherited trauma. Inspired by this, we founded the first English-speaking Kriegsenkel group in 2021. Since then, members from Canada, the US, and Australia have been meeting online monthly to share their stories, exchange resources, and offer one another peer support. The experience has been deeply meaningful for all of us.
We would love to help others form or connect to similar small support groups. If you reach out to us, we can:
Connect you with an existing Kriegsenkel group
Link you up with others in compatible time zones (we suggest no more than two time zones per group) to form a new group
Arrange an introductory meeting to share experiences and ideas on what has worked well for us
Share resources and information
Please email us at englishspeakingkriegsenkel@gmail.com
For books, articles and other resources, check out https://www.americankriegsenkel.com/about-this-site.html
We look forward to hearing from you and growing this supportive community together.