France finally acknowledges its war children, The offspring of German soldiers and French women born

[jody]

during the occupation were cruelly shunned.

France finally acknowledges its war children

In recent times, the status of these often forgotten children of the war has changed. A year ago, the German authorities offered double nationality to French people with German soldier fathers. The French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, who was born six months before Germany invaded France, is credited with helping to set the German citizenship offer in motion. "France and Germany have remained up to now deaf to the distress of the last innocent victims of a conflict that they never saw," he said in a speech. "These children turned adults are asking us 60 years later to recognise their value, their lives and, above all, their identity."

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Those people who take German citizenship are entitled to German pensions and other benefits, but German officials point out that no one has asked for any so far. As French benefits are comparable to those in Germany, there is little financial advantage in taking citizenship. In any case, applicants themselves say they are not in it for money, only for recognition of their German identity.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

While Europe is becoming more open to the subject of parentage during the war, it still carries a stigma, Mr Delorme believes. "Many people are scared to discover that their father was a Nazi," he says. "But we are not responsible for our parents.

"In France, we have yet to work through our memories of the war. I regret that France never had its own Nuremberg trials. Here, everyone was a collaborator until April 1944; then they all became resistance fighters. The truth is more difficult."

Norway's children

It is not just in France that children of soldiers faced discrimination: many of the 800,000 children born to mothers across Europe who were perceived to have been sleeping with the enemy faced similar abuse.

[Solly Mack]

1. K&R

Thank you for posting this.

[NNN0LHI]

2. Amerasian children really had a tough life after we left Vietnam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN9Ek1cBnR0

Same thing will happen when we leave Afghanistan and Iraq.

:cry:

Don

[dysfunctional press]

3. i don't think that procreation by troops is as big an issue in iraq and afghanistan as in vietnam.

that whole islamic thing, and all.

[NNN0LHI]

4. Hope you are right but it doesn't look promising

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/27/AR2009022703087.html

An End to Baghdad's 'Dark Era'
Nightclubs on the City's Famous Abu Nawas Street Are Open Again and Popular -- Even With U.S. Troops

By Sudarsan Raghavan
Washington Post Foreign Service
Saturday, February 28, 2009

BAGHDAD, Feb. 27 -- The American soldier stepped out of the Baghdad nightclub. In one hand, he clutched his weapon. In the other, a green can of Tuborg beer. He took a sip and walked over to two comrades, dressed as he was in camouflage and combat gear. snip

Club manager Salah Hassan said Thursday's visit was not exceptional. "The Americans come here four or five times a week," he said. "They buy drinks and pay for them."

Others at the club said the soldiers had been there more than once. "I love the Americans," said Amal Saad, a petite young woman with blue contact lenses and thick red lipstick. "I like it when they come here. I feel so safe."

"Many times, I went with them in their Humvees," she added. "They took me to shops and bought me chocolates and gifts."
Hassan said he started his club with a $10,000 grant handed out by the U.S. military to launch small businesses, an integral part of U.S. counterinsurgency strategy to pacify Baghdad. "They come and dance," he said. "We know each other well. And they tell their friends, and they also come."

[jwirr]

5. I think it will be even worse for the children in the Islamic countries.

There are definite laws against fraternizing. Laws with some very hard consequences.

[dysfunctional press]

6. there probably won't be that many half-american pregnancies as in past conflicts..

and least not that are allowed to be carried to full term.