 
	July 2016
LAUNCH  OF THE BOOK ''WE CHILDREN OF OCCUPATION – STORIES OF OCCUPATION SOLDIERS'  DAUGHTERS AND SONS''
	    

The launch  of the book ''We Children of Occupation  – Stories of Occupation Soldiers' Daughters and Sons'' by author Ute Baur – Timmerbrink was  organised in Bosniak Institute in Sarajevo on July 11, 2016.
          The  book represents a unique sample of narrative testimonies about children born of  occupation who were born in period between 1945 and 1955 in 20 th  century. Author Ute Baur – Timmerbrink,  Dr. Heide Glaesmer, professor at the  University of Leipzig and a psychiatrist Amra  Delić were speaking about this very book, while the launch was moderated by Monja Šuta – Hibert who is also the  translator of this very title.
          
          After  the capitulation of the Nazi Germany in May 1945, Germany and Austria were  occupied by military forces of the Allies and divided into four zones of  occupation. The capitals, Vienna and Berlin were divided on four sectors.  Despite the prohibition of fraternisation which was valid for all occupation  soldiers from the very beginning, in all occupation zones intimate contacts  between soldiers and local women occur. In the end of 1945 and at the beginning  of 1946 the first children of occupation were born.
          There  were children who were not born in love affairs and relationships. Many of them  were children of raped mothers. It is assumed that around 20 000 children of  occupation were born in Austria while in Germany the assumption is there are  200.000 and 250.000 children born of occupation. The real number is larger than  the abovementioned ones. 
        
Children  born of occupation as well as their mothers were exposed to the multiple kinds  of discrimination. Dark skinned children were mostly victims of racist,  ideological and moral prejudices partially based on the Nazi propaganda. A vast  majority of them has dealt with heavy spiritual burden. This book tells the  story about the destiny of children born of occupation who have never made up  with the unresolved issues concerning their descent. Twelve chosen portraits as  well as two theoretical chapters have portrayed children born of occupation in  Germany and Austria after WWII and presented their lives and enormous yearning  for truth. This journey into the past brings pain, insecurity but also hope. 
          The  book strives to encourage children born of occupation as well as readers to  deal with the past in order to prevent transmission of unresolved issues or  even traumas to the future generations. 
          
          The  event was media covered and for more information please visit the following  links:
          
          http://balkans.aljazeera.net/vijesti/mi-djeca-okupacije
          
          http://www.vecernjak.net/odrzana-promocija-knjige-mi-djeca-okupacije
          
          http://www.tacno.net/kultura/promocija-knjige-mi-djeca-okupacije-pripovijesti-kcerki-i-sinova-saveznickih-vojnika 
        
 
  
  
	
      