Writing to report, writing to heal: The Diary of General Aleksej von Lampe as a Reflection of his Experience of Emigration in Berlin, 1919–1965

Russian General Aleksej von Lampe and his diary, which reflects his experience of emigration, are at the center of this article. Lampe wrote his diary for various reasons. Firstly, according to his own understanding, it was the duty of every contemporary eye-witness to record their experiences and the events in the world around them. Secondly, Lampe planned a future publication on the White Movement during the Russian Civil War and in the emigration based on the material in his diary. Thirdly, the diary also had an unspoken purpose for Lampe, namely the processing and the healing of the disruption in his life caused by his emigration. This case study focuses on Lampe’s self-depiction as an émigré and a family father. The diary played a central role in his life, as it connected and intertwined the Russian past with the present in Germany.Russian General Aleksej von Lampe and his diary, which reflects his experience of emigration, are at the center of this article. Lampe wrote his diary for various reasons. Firstly, according to his own understanding, it was the duty of every contemporary eye-witness to record their experiences and the events in the world around them. Secondly, Lampe planned a future publication on the White Movement during the Russian Civil War and in the emigration based on the material in his diary. Thirdly, the diary also had an unspoken purpose for Lampe, namely the processing and the healing of the disruption in his life caused by his emigration. This case study focuses on Lampe’s self-depiction as an émigré and a family father. The diary played a central role in his life, as it connected and intertwined the Russian past with the present in Germany