Voices of Forced Labor: Epistolary and Memoir Heritage of Female Ostarbeiters

Abstract

The article is devoted to a comprehensive study of the epistolary and memoir heritage of Ukrainian female Ostarbeiters as a unique source for reconstructing their daily lives and strategies of resistance against Nazi dehumanization. The purpose of the article is to analyze the specifics of the female experience of forced labor in the Third Reich through the prism of "ego-documents," identifying mechanisms of psychological adaptation and means of overcoming the information blockade. The methodological basis of the research is an anthropocentric approach that combines the tools of historical anthropology, source studies, and gender studies. Methods of linguistic-historical analysis, hermeneutics, and comparative studies were applied. The source base includes: 1) archival materials (funds of the State Archives of Zaporizhzhia Region, in particular epistolary collections and filtration files); 2) published collections of oral testimonies and letters (Uninvented, Please Do Not Forget Me, That Was Captivity...); 3) ego-documents (memoirs and diaries of former forced laborers). The scientific novelty lies in the systematic study of the "Aesopian language" phenomenon in the letters of female Ostarbeiters as a tool for preserving agency; for the first time, based on regional materials from the Zaporizhzhia region, the gender aspect of camp life and the tragedy of motherhood in captivity are detailed. Conclusions. It is proven that epistolary heritage is a key resource for deconstructing Soviet ideological myths about "traitors". Specific features of the female experience are identified: forced sanitary and hygienic procedures, exploitation in the private sector (working for Bauers), and social vulnerability. The author's attention is focused on linguistic strategies (metaphor, irony) that allowed captives to convey the truth about hunger and abuse under conditions of strict censorship. The process of post-war stigmatization of repatriates ("the second circle of hell"), which led to prolonged social isolation and self-censorship of memory, is highlighted separately. The results obtained can be used in memorial practices, the development of educational programs, and further studies on the history of daily life during World War II.