collaborators
In 1997, French Nazi collaborator Maurice Papon went on trial for sending Jews to death camps under the Vichy government.
Ten years ago Picaper was unable to find a publisher for his book. In the last few weeks, has sold over 20,000 copies. Many war children still longed for respect, he said.
"Some want dual nationality. Their father didn't recognize them so at least they want to be recognized by his nation."
The Nazis allowed German soldiers to marry women from Norway or the Netherlands deemed Aryan, but they banned liaisons with the French, considered an inferior race, Picaper said.
Few French children ever met their father. Many were sent to the eastern front, others died fighting when the Allies landed.
Perioux was over 50 and had joined the French navy when his children urged him to search for his father. Learning from a family friend that he was the son of a German soldier came as a shock to the taxi driver, who does not speak a word of German.
With the help of archives, he tracked down his father Fritz -- only to suffer the next disappointment. The man had died years ago and his German children -- Perioux' siblings -- did not want to recognize their French brother.
"It is a very delicate issue. My father's German wife is still alive," Perioux said. He smiled sadly at a black-and-white photograph showing a young soldier grinning into the camera, the only evidence he has of his father -- the German enemy.
"The resemblance to my 38-year-old son is so overwhelming," he said." When I hug my son, I feel like I am holding my dad in my arms."
RSS