“I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine. It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation. War is hell.” – William Tecumseh Sherman.
War is a tragedy with no true winners, only survivors burdened by the scars of conflict. Families have to flee homes; children get deprived of food, shelter, and independence, and soldiers tend to sacrifice their dreams. The loss and deprivation turn into a deeply buried memory that resurfaces in different forms: sometimes an illness, other times chronic pain.
From Trauma to Peace, a heartfelt memoir by Gerda Robinson is a telltale of a German child raised during World War II, shedding light on the aftermath of violence and its painful experiences. Though she was not persecuted as a Jew, Gerda’s story highlights the enduring trauma and scars of hunger, fear, and emotions inflicted by the war.
As a child in Wilhelmshaven, Gerda witnessed the horrors of bombings, hunger, and physical neglect. The innocence of her youth was shattered by the constant terror of air raids and the scarcity of necessities like food and clothing. The war robbed her and countless others of a normal childhood, and the psychological impact lasted long after the conflict ended. Her body manifested the trauma through chronic pain and emotional turmoil that haunted her for decades.
Gerda’s story is a testament to the physical destruction caused by war and a reflection on the emotional and psychological toll that lingers in its wake. Through her journey, she conveys a message that the true cost of war is far more profound than we often acknowledge. It seeps into the minds and bodies of those survivors, leaving lifelong wounds.
Gerda’s Message Is Clear: There Are No Winners In War
The suffering is universal, affecting not just soldiers but innocent civilians, including children, who are left to grapple with the long-lasting effects. In telling her story, Gerda aims to give a voice to the forgotten victims of war and to offer hope for healing in the face of deep trauma.
You can read more about her journey and how she overcame the trauma in her memoir, From Trauma to Peace: How We Reclaim Our Lives.
Grab your copy now. The Book is available on Amazon.
