How memory survives: Descendants of Auschwitz survivors and the progenic tattoo

Descendants of Auschwitz survivors in Israel often replicate the progenic tattoo—originally assigned to inmates by Nazi authorities—as a form of personal and collective memorialization. This act reflects evolving interpretations of Holocaust memory, shifting from a symbol of victimization to one of resilience and remembrance. The study traces this phenomenon through intergenerational storytelling, revealing how descendants navigate private and public narratives around the tattoo's meaning. By analyzing genealogies of the tattoo, the research highlights its role in both individual identity and broader cultural commemoration, offering insight into the enduring legacy of trauma and memory.

Bloch, A. (2021). How memory survives: Descendants of Auschwitz survivors and the progenic tattoo. Thesis Eleven, 168(1), 107–122. https://doi.org/10.1177/07255136211042453