Violence, warfare and forced migration leave traces in mind, spirit and body. ‘War trauma’ is a developing concept. Early 20^th-century ideas of ‘shell shock’, culminating in ‘post-traumatic stress disorder’ (PTSD), have us navigating between medical, human rights and cultural perspectives. Van de Put will try to show how there is a trend towards an understanding that unites these different perspectives, which may change not only the way we look at ‘survivors’, but also our own society.