This book examines the representation and transgenerational transmission of Holocaust trauma in non-fiction literature, exploring how trauma and memory are conveyed, the narrative and stylistic strategies employed, and the evolution of Holocaust literary representation across generations. It begins by clarifying the terms Holocaust, Shoah, and Churban to establish precise definitions and a theoretical foundation. The first part traces the origins, development, and specific forms of Holocaust literature, including perpetrator literature, highlighting its complexity and historical evolution. The second part provides a comprehensive analysis of Holocaust trauma and memory, addressing survivor syndrome, survivor guilt, perpetrator trauma, and the phantom theory of unconscious transgenerational transmission. Holocaust memory is examined in terms of shaping factors, challenges of authenticity, accuracy and preservation, and its shift from individual to collective forms. Concepts such as postmemory and generational transmission show how the Second Generation inherits trauma through parental narratives and emotional imprints, while the Third Generation reconstructs and reinterprets the Holocaust from a more independent perspective. The third part focuses on literary analysis of representative works. The conclusion reflects on the continuing evolution of Holocaust literature and remembrance amid the declining number of living witnesses. It traces the shift from direct eyewitness accounts to post-generational processing and new literary forms, noting how even fictional works increasingly integrate the Holocaust into broader historical, cultural, and psychological discourse. The book closes by considering how literary representations can sustain historical awareness for future generations.

Andrea Petzenhauser received her PhD from Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany.