Edited by Yad Vashem historians Robert Rozett and Iael Nidam-Orvieto, the collection documents personal testimonies of Jewish survivors whose experiences varied widely – including those who endured the ordeal of concentration camps, fought as partisans or survived in hiding.
Unlike memoirs written later, the letters often describe, immediately and without filters, what occupied survivors in the period shortly after liberation. The letters reveal the individual dimensions of “liberation”, which was often experienced not as a triumph but as a confrontation with the loss of family members and home. The volume is supplemented by historical contextualizations from the editors, placing each letter within its biographical, geographical and historical context.
On the evening of September 14, the book will be presented to the public. Starting at 8 p.m., actors Iris Berben and Oliver Masucci will read from the letters at Kino International in Berlin. Federal Minister Karin Prien will deliver the keynote address. Prof. Dr. Dan Michman, former Head of the International Institute for Holocaust Research at Yad Vashem, will discuss the historical significance of the letters. A letter written by his mother is included in the volume. The evening will feature musical accompaniment by Nur Ben Shalom. Further readings are planned in Frankfurt am Main (October 8, 2026) and Stuttgart (January 25, 2027).
Karin Prien, Federal Minister for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth: “The letters tell of the greatest crime in human history. At the same time, they bear witness to the inner strength of people who survived the Shoah. With these letters, I associate the hope of leaving future generations testimonies that make these experiences tangible, fostering empathy, understanding and, not least, an appreciation of the value of our democracy.”
Kai Diekmann, Chairman of the Friends of Yad Vashem e.V., explains: “These letters are legacies – first voices from the moment between hell and hope. At a time when the number of eyewitnesses is dwindling, their publication in German will serve as an admonition from the past. They show us that liberation represents the beginning of a new and often immeasurably difficult life story. These direct testimonies are a treasure trove of knowledge that we must preserve.”
Dr. Robert Rozett, Senior Historian Emeritus at Yad Vashem and co-editor of the volume: “Without having been asked to do so, Holocaust survivors wrote letters in which they recounted the fundamental story of their suffering and survival, as well as the losses they had endured, often naming family members and friends who had been murdered. These letters constitute the very first testimonies of survivors and are valuable documents that contribute to our understanding of the Holocaust. They also embody the profound desire of most survivors to look towards a better future. Anguish and glimmers of hope lie at the heart of these letters. The process of analysing the letters and commenting on their content provides an additional layer that helps readers understand the diverse experiences Jews faced during the Holocaust.”
Publisher Manuel Herder: “After So Much Pain and Anguish is a book that makes survivors’ voices accessible and creates space for empathy and dialogue.”
Lena Altman, CEO of the Alfred Landecker Foundation: “Every first letter in this volume begins with the hope of receiving a reply. Eighty years later, we have become the recipients of these words. The letters reveal the diversity of Jewish experiences after liberation – and the different paths back into life. We support this project because it makes history tangible through individual voices and because these voices should also reach future generations.”
The Friends of Yad Vashem aims to firmly establish the collections and expertise of the International Holocaust Remembrance Center Yad Vashem in public awareness. To this end, the association not only strengthens relations between the Holocaust remembrance center in Jerusalem and German institutions, but also organizes numerous exhibitions and campaigns in cooperation with Yad Vashem. Through initiatives such as #LichtZeigen and exhibitions like Sixteen Objects, the Friends of Yad Vashem works to foster an active culture of remembrance.