The Devastation caused during the Second World War was apparent to all of the nations around the world. Children are taught regularly about the trauma induced upon the soldiers and civilians during the multiple military campaigns conducted in Europe and elsewhere. What is less likely to be taught however, is the emotional pain that followed occupied cities, even after Berlin fell and Germany surrendered. There were untold numbers of children adopted during the war that were now being raised in countries different from their original homeland. This led to massive repatriation efforts by the European Nations who found that their population levels were dropping dangerously low. These Countries began efforts to repopulate themselves by means of reclaiming children of their own national heritage from the families who were raising them (T Zara P. 340).
The plight of these children was one that was glossed over by the supposed nationalist benefit of returning them to their own homeland. Slavic countries were the main instigators of these repatriation programs that led to the uprooting of children’s lives. This makes sense given that an estimated 20,000 children were taken from that region for “Germanization” (T Zara P.341). While it is justifiable as a nation to look at these children who had been taken in by a recent wartime enemy and see a need to reclaim them, it was often done without the tenderness and care that should have been afforded these new families that were being broken apart. In many cases during the “Germanization” efforts, German families who choose to take in these stolen children were told lies about the origins of their new child. Some of these families believed that they were merely adopting German orphans (T Zara 342). If the innocence of these German families is to be believed, then the forcible uprooting of the children from the homes that had loved them and raised them for years is tragic.
Every individual who lived through the turbulent years of the postwar era has a unique story and provides new perspectives to old issues. The efforts to renationalize were mostly successful and gave many children clarity about their origins. The process also took its toll on the psyche of these children and the families that they had to leave. For better or for worse, the actions taken in regards to these children decided the fate of thousands of Europeans and defined how they would look at their own nationality.
Polish Children that were taken for Germanization
T Zahra, “A Human Treasure”- Europe’s Displaced Children Between Nationalism and Internationalism, Past and Present” (2011)
You did a great job explaining how most people who adopted these children did not know their true origin. It helps illustrate that German officials were not just manipulating and hurting people from other nations but also their own citizens.
This reminds me of the part of Tara Zahra’s work where she writes about two Polish children that had been in the care of a new German family for two years. Once the UNRRA found them, they asked permission to not be removed from their new family because they were orphans and had no family in Poland to go bak to. Their request was denied (Zahra, pg. 346). The UNRRA had very noble intentions, but it seems the policies they set in place were not bendable enough for each delicate situation each and every child had.
I feel as though you made a great point about children not being taught about the struggles that followed immediately after the war. In history we are taught primarily about the Holocaust and then after the war is over it is a giant celebration. The actions of the Europeans affected hundreds of people and hundreds of children.
I like how you brought to light the lack of care and attention European governments gave to the psyche of displaced children. It seems as though they only cared about protecting a number, rather than nurturing an individual. Whether or not that was their true intention, I am still unconvinced, but their approach was certainly insensitive.