"I am a father": Experiences of Fatherhood in Diaries of Fathers from the Warsaw Ghetto.

While there has been considerable research on women and motherhood during the Holocaust, scholars have paid less attention to fatherhood. This article explores the experiences of Jewish fathers in the Warsaw ghetto during the Holocaust and sheds light on the roles and challenges they encountered in the face of extreme adversity as documented in their diaries. Many fathers, who traditionally had not been involved in household chores and childcare before the war, found themselves taking on these responsibilities in the ghetto. Harsh conditions and constant threats forced fathers to adapt to and take on new roles, both physically and emotionally. These roles included providing for their families, as well as nurturing their children's well-being, both physically and psychologically. A close examination of the diaries of fathers in the Warsaw ghetto reveals their struggles to protect and care for their children amid an intimidating reality. The diaries convey a range of emotions, including fear, frustration, guilt, and love, and demonstrate the profound impact of their traumatic experiences on their sense of self. Fatherhood emerges as a dynamic construct shaped by circumstances, with extreme events requiring fathers to adapt and balance traditional roles with new challenges to protect their families. These diaries provide a unique perspective on how fatherhood was redefined and tested in the collapsing Warsaw ghetto. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]