Figure 1.--During World War I, no one in France could imagine collaborating with the Germans. The French hated the Germans, commonly referrng to them as the Bosch. But only a relatively small area of northern France was occupied by the Germans. The fall of France in the first year of World War II and the Vichy regime changed all this. Germany masintained a substantial pccupation force in France throughout the War. There were as a result many French women who found German boy friends. During the occupation they were shunned, but largely ignored. And their children became a target for the NAZI Lebensborn program. After the Liberation there was an accounting. Photographer: Rober Capa. .

There was no organized kidnapping of children in France for Eindeutschung ( Germanisation ) as was the case in Poland and several other countries. The Germans had, however, a large occupation force in France. The inevitable result was a substantial number of children fathered by German soldiers. One estimate suggests 50,000 through May 1943. Himmler thought that the children of a French woman with a German soldier could produce suitable children for "Eindeutschung". Although not as entusiastic as with the children fathered by German soldiers in Norway, Himmler still saw the French children as "valuable German blood". The SS opened a Lebenborn home near Chantilly called Westwald. There were disagreements amomg the French as to how to deal with these children. Many were hostile. The widow of French General Huntzinger argued that they should be integrated into the French society. Despite the stigma of having a German boy friend, the women involved reportedly avoided the Lebensborn at Westwald because the SS insisted that the babies be given up for adoption in Germany. Another source of children was the many french prisoners and slave laborers brought from France to work in Germany and Austria. Some French men fathered babies, but these would be cared for by the mother. It was not the same for the women workers. They were obliged to give it up to a German family for adoption.

Kidnappings

There was no organized kidnapping of children in France for Eindeutschung ( Germanisation ) as was the case in Poland and several other countries in the occupied East. Here several hundred thousand children were kidnapped--many of them who did not ultimately pass the screening process ultinately perished in concentration camps. This did not occur in France and the other Western European countrids that the NAZIs occupied..

French Women with German Boyfriends

During World War I, no one in France could imagine collaborating with the Germans. The French hated the Germans, commonly referrng to them as the Bosch. But only a relatively small area of norther France was occupied by the Germans. The fall of France in the first year of World War II and the Vichy regime chnged all this. It was not possible to avoid collaborating with the Germans unless individuals joined the Resistance and that not only put the individual, but their family in danger. Vichy collaboration was exptensive. In fact Pétain himself coined the word collaboration. The Vichy regime collaborated both militarily and economically with the NAZIs. So it is not surprisding there was collaboration on the personal lrvel. The women who engaged in what the French called 'horizontal collaboration' had many motives. Food and other consumer goods were scarce. Women with husbands killed in the fighting or interned in POW camps were in a particulsrly difficult dituation. The vhusband was the porimasry breadwinner and thus many families were left vwithout income. A German boy friend was a way of obtaining such items. Highee ranking officers could provide luxuries. The women involved varied. Some were politically naive. Others understood what was involved, but enjoyed the benefits. Others became deeply attached to their German boy friends. During the occupastion it was observed, but lsrgely ignored. After the liberation, many of the French women with German lovers were publically humiliated. Many had their hair shaved off. Many French people had collaborated with the Germans. Resistance groups, especially the Comminists, executed some of the collaborators who worked with the Gestapo and Milice. DeGualle tried to control this. Pétain and top Vichy officials were tried. Most who collaborated were never punished. The women who fratenized with German soldiers were, however, a special target of the Resistance after the War. Unlike male collaborators, they were not shot.

German-French Babies

The Germans had, however, a large occupation force in France. Many young women fell in love with the German soldiers. Many French men were POWs or as the war progressed, conscripted for war work in the Reich. Thus there were few available young men. In addition times were hard and German lovers could often provide access to hard to get items, especially food. The inevitable result was a substantial number of children fathered by German soldiers. One estimate suggests 50,000 through May 1943. Himmler thought that the children of a French woman with a German soldier could produce suitable children for "Eindeutschung". Although not as entusiastic as with the children fathered by German soldiers in Norway, Himmler still saw the French children as "valuable German blood".

French Lebensborn Homes

The SS opened a Lebenborn home near Chantilly called Westwald. I think the home was opened in 1943, but do not have details at this time. A French reader tells us that there were other French Lebensborn homes, but we do not have a list. There was a stigma of having a German boy friend. This created difficulties for the mothers raising the babies. French mothers having babies were susposed to turn the children over to the Germans at these Lebensborn homes. Most of the women involved, however, reportedly avoided the Lebensborn at Westwald because the SS insisted that the babies be given up for adoption by German families. German soldiers were not suspsed to fraternize. As a result, authorities had no way real way of knowing about the children. There were rivalries between the Wehrmacht and SS. Thus Wehrmacht commanders had no real desire to enforce the regulations on this. The men involved were primarily interested in the relationship with the French women involved and thus not disposed to insist on the Lebensborn home. The men particularly interested in the childrenwould also not insist because the children would be adopted by an unknowb family. We have no data at this time on the number of French children born in Lenensborn homes and adopted by German families.
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The Children

There were disagreements amomg the French as to how to deal with the children. Many were hostile. The widow of French General Huntzinger argued that they should be integrated into the French society. A French reader tells us, "Many beautifull children were born out of the laisons between the German soldiers and French women. The women were seen as collaborators. The children were accepted with some difficulty. I don't like this reaction in my country. Such reaction was not the case in Austria and Germany. It is a bit strange because the Frenchs love all children. It shows I think the depth of the resentment after the War because on the NAZI occupation." For the most part the women were unmarried and on their own. Some of these couples established contact after the War and did marry. I think this was a relatively small percentage. In the climate after the War, former German soldiers could hardly come to France, so some French women did go to Germany.

French Workers in the Reich

Another source of children was the many french prisoners and slave laborers brought from France to work in Germany and Austria. Some French men fathered babies, but these would be cared for by the mother. It was not the same for the women workers. They were obliged to give it up to a German family for adoption.

Created: 11:24 PM 4/7/2006
Last updated: 1:26 AM 5/5/2011