When a nation's collective memory becomes a burden due to its own past, individuals also bear a burden. Beyond forgetting and repression, the "work" of the soul can be arduous, even bitter. The German Empire and National Socialism—the starting points of two world wars—have left deep scars on us Germans. Jutta Gujral has made it her mission to explore these influences in the mirror of her own family history. Her "child of peace" becomes the focus of a critical dialogue with her mother, grandmother, and aunt. Their diaries and letters bring history to life. The impact of the past is evident in personal destinies. Suffering is passed on—and victims often unwittingly become new perpetrators.