Selma Leydesdorff Boeken

"In July 1995, the Army of the Serbian Republic killed some 8,000 Bosnian men and boys in and around the town of Srebrenica -- the largest mass murder in Europe since World War II. Surviving the Bosnian Genocide is based on the testimonies of 60 female survivors of the massacre who were interviewed by Dutch historian Selma Leydesdorff. The women, many of whom still live in refugee camps, talk about their lives before the Bosnian war, the events of the massacre, and the ways they have tried to cope with their fate. Though fragmented by trauma, the women tell of life and survival under extreme conditions, while recalling a time before the war when Muslims, Croats, and Serbs lived together peaceably. By giving them a voice, this book looks beyond the rapes, murders, and atrocities of that dark time to show the agency of these women during and after the war and their fight to uncover the truth of what happened at Srebrenica and why."--Back cover.

The narrative highlights the life of Aleksandr "Sasha" Pechersky, who orchestrated a successful prisoner revolt during World War II but remained unrecognized in Russia. It explores the contrasting memorial cultures between Western societies and those shaped by the former Communist regime, shedding light on the complexities of heroism and remembrance. Through Pechersky's story, the book emphasizes the importance of acknowledging unsung heroes and the impact of cultural narratives on historical memory.

Focusing on firsthand accounts, this book showcases the findings of researchers who have engaged with witnesses of mass repression. It emphasizes the importance of personal narratives in understanding historical atrocities, highlighting the impact of these experiences on individuals and communities. By weaving together diverse testimonies, the work aims to shed light on the complexities of memory and trauma, offering readers a profound insight into the human cost of political violence and oppression.

Presents the results of researchers working with the voices of witnesses. This work contributes to the development of the field of oral history, where the creation of the narrative is considered an act of interaction between the text of the narrator and the listener.