Family Reunited 66 Years After World War II Separation

05/19/11 03:30 AM ET

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Germany , Adolf Hitler , George Jaunzemis , New Zealand , World War II , World War II Family Reunited , Latvia , World News

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BERLIN -- A man who was separated from his mother at the end of World War II and raised in New Zealand is meeting his German family for the first time after discovering his true identity.

The International Tracing Service in the town of Bad Arolsen says it helped 69-year-old George Jaunzemis find his family, 66 years after he was separated from his mother at a Belgian displaced persons camp and adopted by another woman.

Jaunzemis' mother searched for her lost son for years, but he was living in New Zealand with a Latvian woman who found him in the camp and spirited him away from authorities.

Jaunzemis stumbled across his story while trying to trace his family's Latvian roots. He is meeting his family in Germany this week and receiving his 150-page file at the ITS on Thursday.

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BlackYowe

I am a classical- liberal women and a Jeweler.

322 Fans

9 hours ago (12:47 AM)

Wow!

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sonicday

10 Fans

10 hours ago (11:31 PM)

Beautiful story!

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JHKH

134 Fans

12 hours ago (9:39 PM)

The story seems to say that the man's Latvian adoptive mother basically kidnapped him from the camp. That is not heartwarming. Finding his birth family is a great story.

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Kenji

63 Fans

11 hours ago (10:37 PM)

How do you get that? It only says he was adopted by another woman. You're supplying the rest.

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nnyl

57 Fans

8 hours ago (1:14 AM)

It says "Jaunzemis' mother searched for her lost son for years, but he was living in New Zealand with a Latvian woman who found him in the camp and spirited him away from authorities."

Spirited away implies something more than just adopted.

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CapsFan1988

4 Fans

16 hours ago (6:10 PM)

Congratulations! In a time where all we hear/read about on the news, is Jersey Shore, Big Company scams millions, and death and destruction, this story is truly heartwarming and a welcome relief!

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glowdotor

31 Fans

16 hours ago (5:40 PM)

My Uncle Harry used to say "You will love your children more than your parents and more than your spouse". This life is full of heartbreak. How do we manage?

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BlackYowe

I am a classical- liberal women and a Jeweler.

322 Fans

9 hours ago (12:48 AM)

It is in our DNA to survive we are stronger than we think we are.

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Curt F

Well, this is another fine mess you got me into...

197 Fans

16 hours ago (5:15 PM)

See what happens when one never gives up hoping! Very cool! Congrats to this man!

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Coneja

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17 hours ago (4:57 PM)

Fantastic story.

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Max Shaw

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205 Fans

18 hours ago (3:53 PM)

I wish I could find my mother. Its been 24 years...still maintaining hope though!

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Tulka2

Solidarity. Courage. Humor.

1430 Fans

18 hours ago (3:59 PM)

I have a friend who had a baby boy in Canada and has her name on the national list of women who want to be found. I pray you find your mother.

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Max Shaw

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18 hours ago (4:11 PM)

Thanks! Mine was a closed adoption which has made it very difficult. I know she had breast cancer when I born too which I do not know the status of. I pray she's okay too..I know she gave me up so I could have a better life, but I hope he health has improved and that she's still around! I want to tell her how much I appreciate her sacrifice. I know it couldnt have been easy...

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Max Shaw

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17 hours ago (4:12 PM)

her* health

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CAMBEL

644 Fans

18 hours ago (3:47 PM)

That poor woman searching for her son. Wonderful that he is able to regain contact with some of his relatives.

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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR

KIVPossum

Moldova Marsupial

1580 Fans

18 hours ago (3:46 PM)

Nice to see a heart-warming story in the news

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Max Shaw

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18 hours ago (3:52 PM)

Was thinking the same thing. A much needed palette-cleanser from all these otherwise horrific events..

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SurrealSequences

To understand the future: understand the past.

111 Fans

18 hours ago (3:29 PM)

A truly wonderful story........heart warming. I'm glad mom found her little boy who is not so little any longer. Much happiness and love to all.

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grovestand12

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19 hours ago (3:02 PM)

i share in his happiness! i want to hang on to this warm and fuzzy feeling for as long as i can...:-)

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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR

TXfemmom

Grandma with eye on the future

1552 Fans

19 hours ago (2:22 PM)

I am thrilled for this gentleman.

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This comment has been removed due to violations of our [Guidelines]

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RINOVirus

89 Fans

19 hours ago (2:56 PM)

You forgot to mention that Al Aqsa cathedral is build on top of a Jewish holy site.

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Kenji

63 Fans

17 hours ago (4:25 PM)

All true, but why post this here? It only taints the point you are making.

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moflard

59 Fans

17 hours ago (4:37 PM)

1) It´s a mosque, not a cathedral, unless you think it´s a Christian house of worship.
2) the Jewish holy site in question wasn´t even standing when the mosque was built.
3) the Jewish holy site in question was built over an earlier Jebusite holy site.
4) there´s so many churches, mosques and, yes even synagogues, built over previous religious sites it´s hard to know where to begin.

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imatoz

2 Fans

18 hours ago (3:33 PM)

Hardly. In the 25 years following Israel's founding 750,000 Jews were expelled from Iran, Pakistan, and the Arab states. They had to leave all real and personal property which was promptly distributed amongst the already wealthy elite. At the same time, these same regimes conspired to keep the so called "Palestinians" in refugee camps instead of using the stolen money to assimilate them as citizens. Talk about human pawns! On the other hand, these same states had promised the refugees that they could return as soon as they wiped Israel off the map. That would be some reunion.

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SurrealSequences

To understand the future: understand the past.

111 Fans

18 hours ago (3:34 PM)

fairwayhill

Want more sad separations go further back in history...........for instance slave trade. In others words don't blame everything on Obama, something which was started by someone else.

Not only that you should know by now that any president is going to do what he is told to do by the "ultimate power" behind the one you think is in power. Wise up!

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GraphicMatt

Somebody make me a sandwich!

523 Fans

18 hours ago (3:42 PM)

Fairwayhill....further proving that you are a soulless, black hearted, broken record.

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CAMBEL

644 Fans

18 hours ago (3:46 PM)

I love how you always post these things with no links. How interesting. Additionally, since the Palestinians do not grant women full rights, and toroture, arrest, and kill gays there, you are obviously a bigot who is against women's rights and anti-gay.

Family Reunited 66 Years After World War II Separation

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