Resilient Remembrance: Former “Ostarbeiter” Remember

Abstract The experience of “Ostarbeiter” – forced laborers primarily from Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union during their time in Nazi Germany 1939-45 – was marked by immense hardship and trauma. The study explores the cultural, and individual factors that shape the resilience strategies employed by the subjects; thus, it shows how these strategies are expressed through metaphorical concepts with an emotional orientation. The research evaluates the resilience strategies employed by the subjects, which are drawn from their metaphorical concepts, according to the following models: Adler’s (role of self-efficacy), Cyrulnik’s (role of community), and Frankl’s (role of sense in life). The metaphor analysis is based on the conceptual metaphor theory (CMT) proposed by Lakoff and Johnson. The present study explores the notion of resilience and coping strategies among former Ukrainian and Russian “Ostarbeiter” in Muenster through published in-depth interviews conducted 60 years later. The analysis of these interviews reveals the sustainability of these strategies, thus providing a compelling argument for incorporating resilience training in contemporary war and conflict contexts.