After the end of World War II, the French state wanted to repopulate France. They did this, among other things, by moving children who were sons of French soldiers.
Raised in France
German women who had children with French men were visited and asked to sign documents to formally relinquish their children. Once in France, the children got a new life and new names, according to “History of the World: Stolen Children of the Second World War”.
– I was almost shocked when I understood what the French state had done in Germany, says Sébastien Driesbach in the program.
While growing up in France, he learned that he was adopted from Germany, but not until adulthood did he learn how the adoption had taken place.
– I don’t doubt for a second that mother was forced to leave me, says Sébastien Driesbach.
“Carried photos of me”
When he finally found out who his biological mother was, it was too late for them to meet. She died before Sébastien Driesbach could meet her, but he just made it in time for the funeral in 2018.
– My mother had handed me over, but kept photos of me until her death. So it all meant something to her.
See History of the world: Stolen children of the Second World War on SVT Play.