Figure 1.--This International News Photo was headed "New Home". The caption read, "Irish war brides who arrived in New York on the "S.S. Henry Griffin" to join their husbands are preparing their babiesfor meeting with their American fathers. Left to right are Mrs. Eleanor Gentz and daughter, Maureen; Mrs. Annie Benedict and son Walter; Mrs. Sylvia Hunt and daughter, Sylvia; Mrs. Margaret Brsanch and daughter, Alice, and Mrs Maureen Biller and son, James." Ireland of ourse was neutral in World War II and American servicemden were not statruoned there. I think these wives here are from Nrthern Ireland (Ulstrer) where Americans were stationed. The photograph was dated March 24, 1946.

Adding to the diversity of American society were the war brides arriving after the War. American soldiers married local women in the various countries where they were stationed. War brides came from more than 50 countries. They were concentrated, however, in a relatively small number of countries. Large numbers of marriages occurred in Britain both during the War and after the war when Americans were stationed in Britain. There were fewer marriages in France because the United States did not maintain large bases there after the Liberation. There were also large numbers of marriages in Germany during the occupation following the War. About 100,000 war brides seem to have come from Britain. Most from continental Europe came from Germany during the occupation. In Asia, war brides primaily came from the Philippines and Japan. There were also marriages in New Zealand and Australia, but smaller mumbers because of the relatively small populations in those countries. One source estimates that in Australia there were about 15,500 marriages and in New Zealand 1,500.

Sources

Reimers, David M. "Post-World War II immigration to the United States: America's latest newcomers," Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science Vol. 454, America as a Multicultural Society (March, 1981), pp. 1-12.

Created: 8:58 PM 7/4/2008
Last updated: 8:58 PM 7/4/2008