The influence of historical events on psychoanalysis: a case history

Parts of the analysis of a patient are described, whose childhood had been overshadowed by serious traumatic experiences (death of father, flight). The interaction between these events which was dictated by recent history and the inner psychic world of the patient is investigated and consequences for the transference, countertransference and psychoanalytic technique are discussed. Special problems can arise when patient and analyst as members of the German post-war generation are equally confronted by the Nazi past during the analytical process.