Collective memory of historical events can be transmitted across generations not only through cultural memory but also through communicative memory; that is, transmitted by people who have lived through these particular times. Yet, few studies have examined the temporal horizon of a particular type of communicative memory: family historical memories. In this article, we examine the intergenerational transmission of memories from the Second World War in families with an ancestor who resisted during the German Occupation. We interviewed 20 French-speaking Belgian families over three generations. During these individual interviews, participants narrated an anecdote about their ancestor and the Resistance. Then, for the middle and youngest generations, we provided a short cue related to the story chosen by the oldest generation and enquired whether they could tell us the story in their own words. Memory transmission was analysed through two processes: retelling and recalling. Our main result revealed that there was a loss of details across generations, but not complete oblivion. We also found some instances of family myth transmitted across all generations. This study provides evidence that family historical memories fade away after a generation or two, even when these memories describe historical events deemed important for family and society.

中文翻译：

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二战家族抵抗运动历史记忆的代际传承

历史事件的集体记忆不仅可以通过文化记忆，也可以通过交际记忆来代代相传；也就是说，由经历过这些特定时期的人传播。然而，很少有研究检查特定类型的交流记忆的时间范围：家族历史记忆。在本文中，我们研究了在德国占领期间有抵抗的祖先的家庭中第二次世界大战记忆的代际传递。我们采访了超过三代人的 20 个讲法语的比利时家庭。在这些单独的采访中，参与者讲述了关于他们的祖先和抵抗运动的轶事。然后，对于中青年，我们提供了一个与最老一代选择的故事相关的简短提示，并询问他们是否可以用他们自己的话告诉我们这个故事。记忆传输通过两个过程进行分析：复述和回忆。我们的主要结果表明，跨代会丢失细节，但并未完全遗忘。我们还发现了一些世代相传的家族神话实例。这项研究提供的证据表明，家庭历史记忆在一两代后就会消失，即使这些记忆描述了被认为对家庭和社会很重要的历史事件。我们还发现了一些世代相传的家族神话实例。这项研究提供的证据表明，家庭历史记忆在一两代后就会消失，即使这些记忆描述了被认为对家庭和社会很重要的历史事件。我们还发现了一些世代相传的家族神话实例。这项研究提供的证据表明，家庭历史记忆在一两代后就会消失，即使这些记忆描述了被认为对家庭和社会很重要的历史事件。