Eva Neidlinger shares her journey of exploring her family history in light of her great-grandfather's role as a Wehrmacht soldier during WWII. While visiting Ukraine multiple times, she has forged connections that were deepened by shared experiences. However, the Russian invasion transformed those friendships, bringing fear for her friends' safety. Discovering a box of her great-grandfather's photos at a family gathering prompted her to reconsider his legacy and the historical implications of his actions in Ukraine, raising questions about memory, war, and identity.
I wonder - did he see the land as part of the new 'Lebensraum' (living space) for the Germans, as it was referred to back then? And was he aware of the atrocities committed?
My friendships in Ukraine became weighted down with my fear for the safety of the people I knew after the Russian army invaded.
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