A boom of U.S. 'war babies' in Europe

Stars & Stripes ^ | 12Apr05 | Steve Mraz

[xzins]

“It could be that this is a natural phenomenon,” she said. “You’ve got people coming back from war who realize that life is precious.”

This should warm the hearts of all us post WWII baby-boomers.

[kingattax]

Just curious......does anyone know if in German law a baby automatically become a German citizen simply by virtue of being born on German soil ?

[RockinRight]

Unfortunately, I think so.

[xzins]

I think these babies are eligible for dual citizenship, but I'm not certain. I had 7 years of my career in Germany, and I think I recall that from someplace.

My son's best friend in highschool had to choose between German and American when he graduated....otherwise he had to go into the German draft.

That would seem to indicate that the Germans were claiming him, too.

[wideawake]

No. To claim German nationality you must have a German citizen as a parent.

[wideawake]

Incorrect.

There are two million Turks living in Germany who were born and raised there but who are not citizens because their parents are not citizens.

[TheOracleAtLilac]

Hardly any other country is stupid enough to do that

[adam_az]

"No. To claim German nationality you must have a German citizen as a parent."

There's a lesson for us in there...

[tom h]

The enlisted women are doing this to avoid future deployment, or at least combat. It's been happening in the Navy for years.

Thank you again, Patti Schroeder and Bill Clinton, for the politically-correct, gender-neutral military.

[xzins]

The article tends to focus on the pregnant dependents, but it's true that many of our enlisted females also have babies.

[Constantine XIII]

I wouldn't call it stupid. It allows us to assimilate people much more easily than other countries.

We don't have nth generation gangs of Irish non-citizens in New York for that very reason.

[twigs]

“A woman can only deliver if they trust the people around them,” said Dr. Monika Mader

Just a point of fact: that baby comes when it's time to come, regardless of the emotions of the mother!

[xzins]

Yeah...I saw that line, too.

(Maybe if you use a cork...........:>)

[TheOracleAtLilac]

I wouldn't call it stupid

Well, I call it STUPID !

Citizenship should not be automatic - as has been the case only since mid 60's.
It should be optional at the 18th B day.

[superfries]

An American baby born on German soil is still considered an American and not a German. My daughter was born in Wuerzburg and is an American citizen.

[armymarinemom]

And having to deliver a child in a German hospital is not the end of the world.

This made me chuckle. My sons girlfriend ended up having an appendectomy in a German Hospital instead of on base. The Army had her transferred to Landstuhl 48 hours post op.

My son said the staff was great and her surgeon also spoke English when he walked in the room. They did look at her like she had two heads when she asked if she could have a copy of the scope video.

[kingattax]

thanks...i was just curious. since the SCOTUS has a new-found appreciation for "international opinion and law", maybe we should update our laws about babies of illegal aliens born in the US to comport with German law.

[superfries]

Funny you mention this, I was stationed at Katterbach AAF in 93-94 and had an emergency appendectomy at a local German hospital. I had no idea what was wrong with me and they admitted me after an ultrasound. The next morning a German doctor who spoke little English comes into me room and pulls back my covers. He pushes on my stomach and says, "oh yes, we operate today". I had no idea what they were going to operate on and had to get out of bed and call the Red Cross to get an interpreter to find out what they thought they were going to do to me. lol

[superfries]

let's not and just say we did! lol