According to estimates, between 1945 and 1955, around 200,000 to 300,000 children were born from relationships between soldiers and local women. The actual number may be higher, as many women tried to hide their connections with foreigners due to fear of social condemnation.
Sophie Hubbe conducted interviews with representatives of 12 families that raised "children of occupation" and with their descendants. The results of her research formed the basis of the book "Memories of an Unwanted Generation. 'Children of Occupation' and Their Descendants Search for Their Roots." In a conversation with DW, Hubbe spoke about how her subjects tried to find their relatives and how their past still influences their lives.
DW: Why did local women enter into relationships with soldiers despite the prohibitions?
Sophie Hubbe: Women went through terrible times: years of war, deprivation, and loss. There were very few men left in society, as many had died or were in captivity. The Allied soldiers, who came as victors, were young and attractive, which created a certain allure. Many women recall that these were genuine love connections. The prohibitions on communication existed on paper, but in reality, adherence to them proved difficult, as people continued to communicate and grow closer.
— How did women hide their pregnancies and the origins of their children?
— Some wore loose clothing to conceal their pregnancies and made up strange stories. For example, a woman might say she was going to the hospital for an appendectomy, and after giving birth, claim that another woman had given birth to the child. However, in small villages, it was difficult to hide this, and many women preferred to remain silent about their children's origins.
Children often became part of society, and it became increasingly difficult to conceal their origins. Completely hiding the past was challenging, but many tried simply not to talk about it. Under the prohibition of communication, young families often could not be together, complicating life for women.
— How many children were born as a result of violence, and what happened to them?
— According to various sources, around 400,000 children were born as a result of rapes during this period. Efforts were made to remain silent about such children; many ended up in orphanages and may still not know about their origins. There were more cases of sexual violence in the Soviet zone, as there were more soldiers there.
I hardly touched on this topic in my work, as among the children of occupation I spoke with, there was only one case of rape. Nevertheless, it is clear that there were many children born as a result of violence, and such connections created difficult relationships between mothers and children.
— How did the lives of "children of occupation" turn out? What problems did they face?
— Among those I spoke with, stigmatization was not as pronounced, although insults on the street were encountered. Children could hear shouts like "Russian child" or "French." They did not always understand what this meant, as their mothers did not tell them about the past. Some became withdrawn, read a lot, and avoided questions.
Stereotypes about enemies from the Nazi past continued to exist. Soon after the war, images of the enemy did not disappear, and this affected the perception of children and women. The British and Americans were perceived more positively, while the French and Soviet soldiers remained "arch-enemies."
— How long did the topic of children's origins remain taboo in families?
— For decades. Of the 12 families I studied, only in one did the mother openly talk about her romance with a Soviet soldier. In other cases, it remained forbidden, although everyone knew about the existence of the problem.
Children recall how they found old photographs and encountered hints they could not understand. When they asked questions, they were advised not to inquire about it. Later, after the mother's death, old letters and photographs often became available, revealing new facets of their past.
— How many people tried to find their biological fathers?
— Everyone I spoke with tried. They understood that this could destroy their perceptions of their parent, but still sought to know the truth. In some cases, meetings with biological fathers occurred, although they did not always turn out to be joyful. Most describe these meetings as warm; some found half-siblings and continue to search for their relatives.
There were significant differences in law and official policy between East and West Germany. In the GDR, "children of occupation" were not acknowledged and were not spoken about, which limited opportunities to search for their fathers. Active searches began there later than in the West, where such campaigns were conducted as early as the 1950s.
— How do "children of occupation" perceive their identity?
— This is an interesting aspect. Many feel a connection to their father, even though they have never seen him. People attribute traits to themselves associated with the parent, whether it be humor or an interest in the culture of another country.
In one American family of "children of occupation," they note their connection to nature, like their biological father, who loved spending time outdoors. One of my interviewees even restored houses in the Urals to connect with her father's culture.
— How do the grandchildren of "children of occupation" view their past?
— They openly discuss it and perceive their grandfather's origins as something positive and valuable. For them, it is a special pride that they can consider themselves part of different cultures.
