During World War II and the Greek Civil War, there was a systemic
movement to drain Greece of its infants, babies and children for
adoption outside the country. It was a phenomenon further instigated by
poverty, and dependence upon other powerful forces, both external and
internal. "The total number of Greek war orphans (who had lost one or
both parents) was estimated to be 340,000 to 375,000 and by 1950, one
out of eight children was orphaned," according to the Greek Ministry of
Social Welfare. Greece had become "a nation of orphans," and between
1948 through 1962, "had the highest annual per capita adoption ratio in
the world."
Some adoptions of that time were simple, legal adoptions and private.
Others were expensive and complicated. Many were illegal and others had
criminal overtones. A profit motive had been created to move babies and
children from one place to another in the country and also far beyond
Greek borders, internationally. But the issue was more importantly that
of human rights. "Birth mothers and adoptive families were routinely
deceived in this transnational scene of baby brokering, which left
children without protection." Documents were "concocted" in some cases
and, in others, "forged. Some babies were stolen from their birth
mothers. Some babies were "re-registered as foundlings and some parents
were told their baby had died, but were not shown a body or a death
certificate." Further, "numerous mothers of children born out of wedlock
were being denied any meaningful consent in the adoption proceedings."
This book will reflect this time in Greek history through a collection
of essays from these children, now adults, known as the "lost children
of Greece." Many of their stories were harrowing, some fantastic, and
have affected and influenced the lives of these individuals for years.
Their essays will reflect the times, but will also describe the
feelings, experiences, and thoughts about being adopted in such
turbulent times, and will chronicle the searches for their biological
relatives, in most cases, after their adoptive parents have died. Much
has been written about the history of these times, which briefly
mentions or refers to the children, but little to none has come from the
children themselves. That is this book.
