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Somatic Memory of Historical Violence

Transgenerational Epigenetics of Trauma - the Shoah, Antisemitism, and Racism

Somatic Memory of Historical Violence

Transgenerational Epigenetics of Trauma -
the Shoah, Antisemitism, and Racism

Trauma in Art & Practice

Collection of artworks, images and exhibitions photos related to transsomatic trauma

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Somatic Memory of Historical Violence

Transgenerational Epigenetics of Trauma - the Shoah, Antisemitism, and Racism

Materials, Links & Resources

For further reading

Introduction

This page brings together a curated selection of materials, links, and resources on transgenerational trauma, epigenetics, and historical violence. It offers an overview of current research projects from different world regions, selected literature and journalistic contributions, videos and podcasts, as well as points of contact and support organizations for those affected by collective historical violence. The selection does not claim to be exhaustive; it is intended to provide initial orientation for scholars, cultural practitioners, and artists as well as for those personally affected and their relatives.

This page does not refer individuals to therapists and does not provide a search tool for individual therapy slots or counseling services. Instead, it offers links to the homepages of professional associations, counseling centers, and support organizations, which themselves provide such search tools, therapist directories, or counseling services.

Navigation note: Each main category can be expanded as an accordion by clicking on its heading. The individual entries with further links appear below.

The links were collected and checked here in May 2026. If individual web pages have since been deleted or links no longer function, this is beyond our knowledge.

1. Research Projects

This section brings together current and completed research projects on transgenerational trauma, epigenetics, and historical violence. The projects are organized by the region of the research site; studies on specific affected groups have been placed where the respective research institution is based.

1.1 Germany, Austria, Switzerland (DACH)

Research projects by German-speaking universities and institutions — with a focus on Holocaust and Nazi violence, migration, refugee research, and basic epigenetic research. The order follows alphabetical sorting by researcher name within the three countries.

Germany

Austria

Switzerland

1.2 North America

Research projects from the USA and Canada — with focuses on Indigenous communities, African American health research, second- and third-generation Holocaust trauma, refugees, and basic epigenetic research. Many of the projects listed here concern affected groups outside North America (e.g. Yazidi, Holodomor, Maya, Uyghurs, Tamils).

1.3 United Kingdom & Ireland

Research projects by British and Irish universities — with thematic focuses ranging from diaspora research and genocide studies to epigenetic inheritance; many of the groups and events studied are located outside the UK.

1.4 Africa (research on site)

Research projects with a research site in African countries — primarily on the aftermath of genocide and apartheid in Southern and East Africa.

1.5 Australia & Aotearoa/New Zealand

Research projects on Indigenous communities in Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand as well as on colonial histories of violence, the “Stolen Generations,” and intergenerational healing.

Australia

Aotearoa/New Zealand

1.6 Europe, cross-national & global

Research projects with a cross-national or global scope, as well as projects from European countries outside the DACH region and outside the United Kingdom.

1.7 Near East / Middle East / Kurdistan / Turkey

Research projects with a research site in the Middle East — primarily from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq — on collective and transgenerational trauma in the context of the Anfal genocide.

2. Literature and Articles

This section brings together relevant scholarly articles, specialist books, journalistic analyses, and overviews on transgenerational trauma and the epigenetics of historical violence. It is organized into academic journals (2.1) and books/articles (2.2).

2.1 Academic Journals / Peer-reviewed Journals

Relevant academic journals from psychotraumatology, clinical psychology, and cultural/social-scientific trauma research.

  • European Journal of Psychotraumatology (EJPT) (Taylor & Francis) — peer-reviewed open-access journal of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS); Editor-in-Chief: Miranda Olff (Amsterdam UMC); ISSN 2000-8066 (ENG) https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/zept20
  • Trauma & Gewalt — Forschung und Praxisfelder (Klett-Cotta Verlag) — official journal of the Deutschsprachige Gesellschaft für Psychotraumatologie (DeGPT, see 4.1) (GER) https://www.klett-cotta.de/zeitschrift/trauma-und-gewalt-z-8
  • Trauma Kultur Gesellschaft (Psychosozial-Verlag) — interdisciplinary journal for psychotraumatology from medicine, psychology, psychoanalysis, social and cultural studies, and philosophy; ed.: Jürgen Straub, Maren Freudenberg, Ursula Gast, Christian Gudehus, Andreas Hamburger, Gabriele Schwab, Annette Streeck-Fischer, Wolfgang Wöller, David Zimmermann & Reinhold Görling; ISSN 2752-2121 (GER) https://psychosozial-verlag.de/programm/4000/4137/results

2.2 Books and Articles

Scholarly and essayistic book publications, essays, and journalistic contributions — sorted alphabetically by author.

3. Videos and Podcasts

Accessible audiovisual materials — from short explainer formats and animated introductions through TED Talks and academic lectures to podcasts. This section is intended as a low-threshold entry point for those affected and for those interested.

3.1 Introduction and Explanation

Short, low-threshold formats for initial orientation in the field.

3.2 Journalism & Documentary

Longer journalistic formats and documentary films.

3.3 TED Talks

Personal and scholarly TED talks on intergenerational trauma and healing.

3.4 Academic Lectures & Panel Discussions

Conference contributions, panel discussions, and academic lectures.

3.5 Podcasts

Audio formats, in-depth conversations, and series.

4. Support Organizations & Institutions

This section brings together points of contact and support organizations for those affected by collective historical violence. It is organized into (4.1) general, cross-group organizations and (4.2) organizations arranged specifically by affected group. Multiple listings are possible where an organization is equally relevant to several categories.

4.1 General / Cross-group

Professional associations, umbrella organizations, and cross-group organizations from research, clinical practice, counseling, and humanitarian aid.

4.2 By affected group

Counseling, therapy, self-help, and documentation organizations, organized by affected group — arranged alphabetically.

Apartheid / South Africa

About decades of state-sanctioned racial segregation and violence in South Africa; many organizations work on coming to terms with the past and on intergenerational healing.

Armenian Genocide

On the 1915–1923 genocide in the Ottoman Empire; its international recognition remains contested to this day.

Bosnia / Srebrenica

On the Srebrenica genocide of 1995 and the consequences of the Bosnian War.

Cambodia / Khmer Rouge

On the genocide under the Khmer Rouge 1975–1979.

Chechnya

On the Russian wars in Chechnya 1994–1996 and 1999–2009 and on continuing repression.

Colombia

On decades of armed conflict and on disappeared persons.

Darfur / Sudan

On the genocide in Darfur and on ongoing conflicts in Sudan.

Gaza / Palestine

On ongoing military violence and the humanitarian crisis.

Herero & Nama (German colonial genocide in Namibia)

On the genocide committed by German troops 1904–1908.

Hibakusha (Hiroshima / Nagasaki)

Survivors of the 1945 atomic bombings and their descendants.

Holocaust / Shoah

Brings together organizations for Shoah survivors and their second- and third-generation descendants. Several of these organizations are accessible worldwide via online formats.

Holodomor / Ukraine

On the Soviet-induced famine of 1932–33 (~4 million dead) and its transgenerational consequences, which have become newly relevant in a particular way in the context of the current war in Ukraine.

Kurds / Yazidi

Brings together organizations for Yazidi and Kurdish survivors of genocide, ISIS captivity, sexualized violence, and displacement.

Māori / Aotearoa New Zealand

Brings together Indigenous healing, health, and research organizations in Aotearoa/New Zealand that work with colonial histories of violence and intergenerational trauma in Māori communities. Many of these organizations combine mental-health care with kaupapa Māori (Māori-centred values and methods).

Maya / Guatemala

On the genocide against the Maya population 1981–83 (~200,000 dead) and on the ongoing consequences for Indigenous communities in Guatemala and in the diaspora.

Native Americans / First Nations

On boarding schools, forced relocation, and ongoing structural racism in the USA and Canada.

Native Australians

On the consequences of colonization, the “Stolen Generations,” and structural racism.

Rohingya (Myanmar / Bangladesh)

On the displacement of and systematic violence against the Muslim Rohingya minority.

Rwanda

On the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994 and on coming to terms with it.

Sinti & Roma (Porajmos / Samudaripen)

On the Nazi genocide of Sinti and Roma and on ongoing antigypsyism.

Slavery / African American Community

Brings together therapy, education, and self-help services that specifically address Black communities and connect to the transgenerational consequences of enslavement and structural racism.

Tamils / Sri Lanka

Brings together organizations for Tamil survivors and refugees of the civil war in Sri Lanka (1983–2009) and of the mass violence documented there.

Uyghurs / Xinjiang / East Turkestan

Brings together documentation and advocacy institutions on the crimes against humanity (possible genocide classification) against the Uyghur population in the People’s Republic of China.

Vietnam / Agent Orange

On the long-term consequences of the Vietnam War and the defoliation campaign.

Yenish and Victims of Coercive Measures in Switzerland

Brings together organizations representing Yenish communities and people affected by historical coercive welfare measures, child removals, and forced assimilation in Switzerland.