Children of the Enemy or the Future of Socialism? Being a Child of an American Soldier in Socialist Czechoslovakia

After the US Army liberated Czechoslovakia and consequently left the country at the end of 1945, local women started to give birth to children fathered by American soldiers. As a result of their multifaceted origin these children had to face various challenges in post-war Czechoslovakia. Not only did the perception of their fathers change from liberators to enemies of socialism. Being illegitimate, children of US soldiers also challenged traditional social values. In the case of mixed-race children, their different physical characteristics (e. g. skin color) could make them targets to manifestations of racism in Czechoslovak society. Based on an analysis of available archival sources, this study asks whether there was a specific state policy towards children of American soldiers. Furthermore, with the help of oral history interviews the study also examines the impact the various aspects of these children’s origin had on their everyday life.