NORWAY’S GIRLS UNYIELDING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 11 January 1944, Page 6

NORWAY’S GIRLS UNYIELDING

NAZI “LOVE CHILD” FLAN FAILED London, Dec. 14. A book detailing the first German attempt fo encourage German soldiers and selected Norwegian girls to have illegitimate children, who, from birth onwards, would be completely controlled by the German Government, has fallen into the hands of the Norwegian Underground Press, says the Stockholm (Sweden) correspondent of “The Times.” “Only 20 copies of the book were published for the benefit of a select circle of Nazi leaders,” says the correspondent. “Statistics indicate that the scheme was virtually a complete failure. “The book describes the methods to be adopted by a special organisation, named "Lebensborn,” to encourage illicit relationships. Among the enticements used were free cinemas, park concerts, and access to good food for girls seeking the company of Germans. CAREFREE SOLD3ERY “Soldiers were to be exempted from the payment of maintenance and guaranteed that neither the authorities nor their families at home should get news of the illegitimate child. “ ‘The Reichskommissariat takes over full financial responsibility for the mother and child.’ says the book, ‘helps to erect numerous homes for expectant mothers, maternity hospitals, and reacreation homes, and will give postnatal care for racially satisfactory women.’ “The book explains that ‘racially inferior’ women will not be accepted in the institution but will be sent to Norwegian maternity homes. The Norwegian authorities will be unable to approve of the adoption of the children unless ‘Lebensborn’ give permission. ‘for since the child has German blood the decision lies exclusively in German hands.” “An elaborate investigation of the mother’s background was to be made if the soldier sought permission to marry her. “Statistics in the book show there were only 2.610 births up to January 1. Probably 1.000,000 German soldiers spent some time in Norway, and the only conclusion is that Norwegian girls spurned all German enticements. “The book says: ‘lt means something for future generations if there are 20 to 30 divisions more to defend the space our comrades have conquered.’ This suggests disappointment with the results of the scheme.

“The book also complains that soldiers who were given lectures, pictures, and books explaining how acceptable girls should look and what qualities they should have, did not select only ‘fully valuable’ women.”