Förlorad barndom - återvunnet liv.

Abstract

The main purpose of this dissertation is to describe and analyse the history of a rather littleknown group of refugees. The Jewish children who were saved from Nazi Germany and were brought to Sweden in 1938 and 1939 been never previously been the subject of a scientific study.The dissemination deals, with the development of an international childaid organisation, and point out the actors and factors which helped save five hundred Jewisb refugee children to Sweden. It is shows that tbe Jewish community in Sweden played a vital role in forcing a Swedish government decision on this issue. But why did it not try to bring more children to a safe haven in Sweden? Lack of political will and support in official Sweden were the major reasons behind tbe Jewish leadership's refrain from trying to extend the limit of five hundred permits.In Sweden the children were placed in foster-families, Jewish and Christian, as well as in children's homes such as orphanages, schools and zionist communities. An examination of their social and cultural living conditions points to a marked difference between these environments.Through an extensive interview study it was possible to uacc what happened to the Jewish child refugees after the war. Unlike other contemporary refugee groups Jewish refugees did not consider returning to their home countries. The majority of the Jewish child refugees chose to remain in Sweden others rnoved to the USA, Israel and Canada.ln this retrospective study, it was feasible to investigate whether the enforced separation actually resulted in harm and disrupted lives, which has been argued by behavioural researchers. One general conclusion which can be drawn is that the trials and tribulations of life as a refugee have not prevented the refugees from achieving successful social intergration and assimilation against a Jew social backdrop On the contrary, it sometimes appears that the processes a refugee undergoes actually act as a catalyst, spurring further creativity and prompting social success in subsequent life.Despite harsh childhood experiences, a lotal lack of professional assistance and a largely indifference host socieciy, the child refugees managed to carve out a successfull place in life, both for themselves and their families.