How does a child interpret war, and how does that memory change over decades? Which silences are kept, or when and how are they finally shared? We will present audio/visual clips that explore the oral histories of octogenarians and nonagenarians who experienced World War II as children in Europe, Japan and the U.S. Oral Histories of the Kindertransport in Wales Anne Cardenas, Independent Oral Historian
Fleeing Estonia During World War II to Escape the Brutal Soviet and Nazi Regimes Rebecca Kiil, Independent Oral Historian
Japanese and Japanese Americans in Japan During World War II Sach Takayasu, Independent Oral HistorianABSTRACT: How does a child interpret war, and how does that memory change over decades? Which silences are kept, or when and how are they finally shared? In this session, we will hear from men and women who were children under authoritarian regimes during World War II, as well as the intergenerational stories of the children's descendants. We will hear recollections from narrators from around the world: Europe, Japan and the U.S. The narrators' stories may have forever been untold had they not shared them after nearly 80 years of silence. We will discuss how oral history contributed to the breaking of those silences. These stories from the past hold particular relevance today as authoritarian regimes thrive around the world, with formerly democratic societies devolving into dictatorship. We look forward to exploring with the audience how oral history can help bring out these stories so that current and future generations can better protect their children. We will hear stories from the Kindertransport before WWII began. Anne will share the voices of these Jewish children who fled the Nazi regime and were settled with families and orphanages throughout Wales and the UK. Rebecca will share stories of people with memories traveling as child refugees from Estonia through Europe and displaced persons camps. Sach will share how oral history approach opened up the 90-year-old Hiroshi to talk for the first time, his life as a 12-year-old being sent away 140 miles from his home as a part of jidou-sokai (mass evacuation for children). She will also share stories of a Japanese American girl's experience being bullied as an alien in her two mother countries, US and Japan. We invite the audience to join us in honoring these narrators and sharing their own experiences with oral history and its power to break silences.
