Germany's war children scramble to find their GI fathers

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2006/03/26/germanys_war_children_scramble_to_find_their_gi_fathers/



Herbert Hack of Berlin with a picture of his father, known as Charles (center in small photo), a former US soldier whom he is trying to locate. (Mark Simon for the Boston Globe)

BERLIN -- They were offspring of romance in the occupation era, born to German women who had flings with American GIs -- sometimes for love, sometimes for a moment's passion, and sometimes, in the hardest days immediately after World War II, for a few packs of cigarettes or a pair of nylon stockings.

Johnny went marching home, often leaving no forwarding address or even a full name. Perhaps unaware of the pregnancy.

His lover was left to face disapproving parents and neighbors. Or a German soldier-husband returning from the front.

The children were known as occupation babies. No one missed the meaning of the euphemism: Occupation bastards.

[alphafemale]

1. It seems like there are several obits for WWII vets each week.

:cry:

And this isn't that big of a city. Sav, GA

These people don't have much time left.

How sad.

[FloridaPat]

2. There has to be a lot more children like that in Vietnam.