Survivors’ Voices
WORLD HISTORY PROJECT 1750 / LESSON 7.6 OPENERSURVIVORS’ VOICESUnless otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Credit: “Survivors’ Voices,” OER Project, www.oerproject.com/PurposeThe effects of World War II extended far beyond battlefields and political borders. The war left lasting impacts on the lives of millions. In this opener, you’ll examine personal testimonies from survivors to better understand the emotional and human consequences of global conflict.Process1.Read the quotes below, each of which offers a perspective on the consequences of the Second World War.Returning World War II soldierHolocaust survivorAtomic bomb survivor“War is brutish, inglorious, and a terrible waste. The only redeeming factors were my comrades’ incredible bravery and their devotion to each other.”—Eugene B. Sledge, With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa(1981)“Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed.”—Elie Wiesel, Night(1960)“I don’t remember much, but I do recall that my surroundings turned blindingly white, like a million camera flashes going off at once. Then, pitch darkness.”—Yasujiro Tanaka, Nagasaki survivor, Time Magazine,“After the Bomb.”.2.What emotions do you hear in these survivors’ voices? List them below.3.What do these perspectives reveal about the consequences of war beyond the battlefield?4.What is one question you have about the effects of World War II after reading these quotes?