A Dangerous Game

The Forbidden Relationships between French POWs and German Women During World War II

Bibliographic Data

ID12914965
AuthorsGwendoline Cicottini (corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume16
Issue2
Pages148-162
Publication date2023-03-29
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of War and Culture Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1752-6272 • E-ISSN: 1752-6280
PublisherRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17526272.2023.2193764
OpenAlexW4361294810
LanguageEN
References cited11

The term ‘forbidden relationships’ refers to contact between German civilians and prisoners of war present on the Reich’s territory during World War II. Any unnecessary contact was banned, both for military security reasons and in the name of the National Socialist racial ideology. Drawing on a substantial body of court files related to these ‘crimes’, this article analyses the romantic and sexual relationships between German women and French prisoners of war. It sheds a light on the gap between prescribed behaviours and the social reality during this period. At the intersection of gender and law during World War II, this article reflects the difficulties of controlling the civilian population during times of conflict and the agency of these actors

Ancient history · Archaeology · First world war · German · World War II · Communism, Protests, Social Movements · European history and politics · French Historical and Cultural Studies · History · Psychology

Tools

Open DOI