31) and he is profoundly disappointed that there was nothing that "might at last supply him with identity" (ibid.). Wolfenstein (1966, 1969) describes the loss of parents while the individual is still immature as "a massive trauma from which it is very difficult to recover" (cit. by Freudenberger & Gallagher, 1995, p. 150). For Fibich, this trauma was even more serious because he had no other relatives. The only person, which could be considered as parental figure, is Aunt Marie - in fact, Hartmann's aunt. .
Aunt Marie was a kind woman who tried to be nice to the orphaned boys, but she "was devoid of that instinctive warmth that Fibich craved" (Brookner, p.34). However, even indifferently kind as she was, she filled, to a point, the void in Fibich's life. Fibich became attached to her because there was no one else. Such attachment behavior can be interpreted as "an instinct with the function of survival as its aim" (Freudenberger & Gallagher, 1995, p. 150). .
Freudenberger & Gallagher (1995) point out that many Holocaust survivors experience deep dependency feelings stemming from ego distortions resulting from the forced abandonment. Fibich became excessively dependent on his friend, Hartmann, and this dependence and attachment lasted through the life time. Their friendship started at school for a very simple reason - they were the only ones who spoke German. Though "their temperaments were diametrically opposed and they rarely thought alike on any matter" (Brookner, p. 7) their mutual attachment became so strong that they not only worked but lived together all their lives. .
Friends are a prominent part of the "eco-map." There are several forms of intimacy. Fibich and Hartmann not only share emotional and intellectual intimacy -- they have become inseparable. They both expected their wives to share their intimacy and though neither Yvette Hartmann, no Christine Fibich would willingly become friends, they went along with their husbands" wishes and the two families are more like one extended family.