Expert on Jewish Identity during WWII and its Aftermath.
Displaced Persons, Soldiers & Survivor Resilience
Françoise Ouzan
TRUE to MY GOD
and COUNTRY
How Jewish Americans Fought in World War II
True to My God and Country explores the role of the more than half a million Jewish American men and women who served in the military in the Second World War. Patriotic Americans determined to fight, they served in every branch of the military and every theater of the war.
Leaving Tomorrow
Embark on a journey of love, loss, and self-discovery with Dr. Françoise Ouzan's captivating novel, Leaving Tomorrow. Follow Rebecca Samuelson, a Holocaust survivor, as she navigates the aftermath of World War II, rebuilding her life from unimaginable horror in the Belsen displaced person camp. Amidst turmoil, she finds her calling as a journalist and faces a heart-wrenching choice between two captivating men, Jonathan and Frank.
Leaving Tomorrow is a powerful tale of hope and healing, set against a rich historical backdrop, with unforgettable characters. Acclaimed author Dr. Françoise Ouzan masterfully weaves a compelling narrative that will leave you enthralled, heartbroken, and uplifted. Don't miss this unforgettable story of resilience and the enduring human spirit.
Join Rebecca on her extraordinary journey of love, loss, and rebirth. Start reading Leaving Tomorrow today, and let its message of hope stay with you long after the last page has been turned.
Throughout the story of Rebecca, Ouzan paints an indelible picture replete with the additional indignities heaped by their liberators on so many of the victims of World War II. Even so, for so many who struggled through, a brighter, more hopeful life did emerge. — Neville Teller
The overlooked experience of these survivors rebuilding their lives in a world without a future gives rise to poignant reflections. —Eliette Abécassis
A superb novel. — France 2 (TV Channel), Judaica, Josy Eisenberg
Full of grace and emotion. How to find courage and hope after unspeakable horrors. —Jerusalem Post
How Young Holocaust Survivors Rebuilt Their Lives.
Drawing on testimonies, memoirs, and personal interviews of Holocaust survivors, Françoise Ouzan delves into the profound impact of Nazi persecution on their personal reconstruction, rehabilitation, and reintegration into a free society. In a captivating exploration, she illuminates the extraordinary life trajectories of diverse groups of Jews, such as displaced persons, partisan fighters, hidden children, and refugees from Nazism. Ouzan unveils a remarkable truth: personal triumph not only binds these survivors together but also serves as a beacon, uniting notions of homeland, social justice, togetherness, and individual aspirations within their redemptive journey.
Prepare to embark on a compelling narrative that chronicles the resilience and fortitude of Holocaust survivors as they bravely rebuilt their lives in the aftermath of World War II. Ouzan's account reveals how these remarkable individuals not only overcame immense adversity and psychic trauma but also made invaluable contributions to the culture and society of their adopted countries. Their inspiring stories serve as a testament to the indomitable human spirit and remind us of the power of perseverance in the face of unimaginable horrors.
Books Authored or Co-Authored
French Version (Leaving Tomorrow)
Demain, nous partons
" J'écris pour toutes les personnes déplacées du monde. Celles à qui une place est refusée, un petit bout de terre, des racines, et pour lesquelles le rêve fournit cet ailleurs indispensable quand toutes les portes se ferment. Tout est balisé. Je peux raconter mon histoire. Notre histoire. " Dans un climat d'après-guerre chaotique, Rébecca, une jeune polonaise rescapée de la Shoah, a rejoint un camp de réfugiés en Allemagne dans l'espoir d'immigrer aux Etats-Unis. Devenue un être de nulle part, écartelée entre un passé culpabilisant et un avenir incertain, saura-t-elle entendre la voix amoureuse et idéaliste de celui qui prône le départ vers la terre promise ? Se laissera-t-elle guider par la flamme du judaïsme que ses tortionnaires n'ont pas réussi à étouffer ? Un roman qui sert admirablement l'histoire et dans lequel chaque mot est compté
French Version
Réussir pour revivre: Jeunes rescapés de la Shoah
À travers une série de parcours individuels en France, aux États-Unis et en Israël, l'auteur démontre comment de jeunes survivants de la Shoah ont transformé leur détresse en énergie constructive, comment ils ont créé ou innové socialement. Au-delà de la variété des parcours de personnalités comme Simone Veil, Elie Wiesel, Serge Klarsfeld, Boris Cyrulnik, Georges Perec, Samuel Pisar ou Aharon Appelfeld, l'ouvrage analyse le rôle d'un climat démocratique, l'effet intégrateur de l'armée ou le poids de l'esprit pionnier.
L’ouvrage est une enquête sur l’étonnant paradoxe d’une « génération distante » qui, bien qu’abîmée par les épreuves, s’est avérée renforcée par la destruction.
Cette étude comparative, qualitative et multidisciplinaire s’appuie sur une quarantaine d’entretiens conduits par l’auteur, deux cent cinquante témoignages d’histoire orale et de nombreux témoignages écrits.
L’historienne Françoise Ouzan croise ces récits de vie avec comme objectif d’en extraire les constantes : adaptabilité, réappropriation identitaire, énergie, courage, résilience, réussite affective, conscience de groupe, capacité à prendre du recul et à conférer un sens à sa vie. Elle démontre comment, dans chaque environnement culturel, les rescapés des camps de concentration, partisans, personnes déplacées ou enfants cachés, ont pu restaurer leur dignité et mettre en œuvre leur besoin de réussir dans leurs engagements sociétaux, comme si leur survie en dépendait.
Holocaust Survivors
This collection of scholars from diverse disciplines examines the post-Holocaust lives of survivors, moving beyond the commonly explored topics of Displaced Persons camps, memory, and testimonies. Focusing on integration, the book delves into how their experiences under Nazi persecution shaped their reintegration into different societies.
Many books on Holocaust survivors deal with their lives in the Displaced Persons camps, with memory and remembrance, and with the nature of their testimonies. Representing scholars from different countries and different disciplines such as history, sociology, demography, psychology, anthropology, and literature, this collection explores the survivors’ return to everyday life and how their experience of Nazi persecution and the Holocaust impacted their process of integration into various European countries, the United States, Argentina, Australia, and Israel. Thus, it offers a rich mix of perspectives, disciplines, and communities.
Postwar Jewish Displacement and Rebirbirth 1948-1967
This volume offers insights into the major Jewish migration movements and rebuilding of European Jewish communities in the mid-twentieth century. Its chapters illustrate many facets of the Jews' often traumatic post-war experiences. People had to find their way when returning to their countries of origin or starting from scratch in a new land.
Their experiences and hardships from country to country and from one community of migrants to another are analyzed here. The mass exodus of Jews from Arab and Muslim countries is also addressed to provide a necessary and broader insight into how those challenges were met, as both migrations were a result of persecution, as well as discrimination.