The year 1946 marks the beginning of a significant phase of transnational adoptions, with Germany serving as one of the primary source countries. Until the early 1970s, approximately 20,000 German children, often facing social hardship and due to paternal connections to the Allied forces, found new families in the USA, England, and France. During this period, 130 German children were also placed for adoption in South Africa, where they were adopted by Boer and German parents – the original plan was to place as many as 10,000 children. With the changing global political landscape, Germany's role in international adoptions also shifted. From the 1970s onwards, an increasing number of children from Asia, Africa, and South America came to the Federal Republic. Civil wars and political instability in countries such as Vietnam, Guatemala, Peru, and Ethiopia led to many of these children being made available for adoption. In developing countries like Sri Lanka and India, a lucrative business emerged, exploiting the population's poverty to facilitate the placement of children with European parents. Germany thus developed into a major destination country for children in need from all over the world. Behind the humanitarian and economic motives were political interests. Transnational adoptions served as a tool of soft power during the Cold War, to promote and/or strengthen diplomatic relations between the Global North and South. One example is Chile in the 1970s and 1980s, under Augusto Pinochet, where thousands of children were made available for adoption to Europe, including over 300 to Germany.

This research project investigates transnational adoptions between Germany and the Global South from 1946-1953 (Germany to South Africa) and 1973-1989 (Chile to Germany). It aims to provide a nuanced understanding of these processes by examining their political, social, and individual dimensions, while critically reflecting on Germany's role. The study explores the international connections among Germany, South Africa, and Chile, specifically addressing whether transnational adoptions were used as tools of German foreign policy to strengthen relations with these countries and how they related to national or ideological discourses.
Particular attention is given to the influence of racist ideologies during Apartheid in South Africa and the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile on the selection of adoptive children and parents, as well as their role in reinforcing racial hierarchies.
The research highlights the interplay between international adoptions and the social and religious contexts through collaboration among German, South African, and Chilean institutions. It emphasizes the roles and agency of non-state actors in post-war Germany and their involvement in South Africa and Chile, while considering debates on adoption and family models amid societal changes. This cooperation among churches, adoption agencies, and children's organizations provides new insights into Germany's transition from a country of origin to a country of reception, complementing existing studies on economic needs and socio-cultural factors influencing parental motivations to adopt war or emergency children.
Case studies of German orphans in South Africa and Chilean children in Germany allow for a comparative analysis of their experiences and those of their biological and adoptive parents. The study examines the integration of German children into Apartheid-era South Africa, focusing on the agency of adoptive parents, while exploring the identity conflicts faced by Chilean children in
the Federal Republic of Germany, including the influence of social networks. This nuanced analysis highlights how social frameworks and support from adoptive parents shape identity development, alongside the motives of biological parents for relinquishing their children. The comparison reveals complex interconnections among power, culture, and identity within the receiving societies.

A multi-perspective approach involving state actors, church institutions, civil society organizations, and the individual experiences of adopted children and their families reveals parallels and differences in adoption policies among Germany, South Africa, and Chile. This leads to a nuanced understanding of Germany's role in transnational adoptions across political, social, and socio-cultural dimensions. The findings are significant for various fields, including international adoption research, Cold War relations between Germany and the Global South, racism studies, and family research.
These issues hold academic importance as well as relevance for affected individuals and policymakers. The increasing global movement of adoptees from non-European countries in the late 20th century calls for a thorough examination of transnational adoption practices, emphasizing transparency, acknowledgment of past wrongs, and critical analysis of historical contexts. In response to these needs, several European countries have established investigative commissions. In Germany, there is mounting pressure for a comprehensive review of adoption practices. Affected adoptees advocate for symbolic redress and the right to trace their origins. Despite the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs reporting no "widespread irregularities" in 2023, international research and private investigations indicate an urgent need for critical scrutiny of German adoption practices.