This seems hard to believe, but an article in the English-language version of Spiegel Online claims that Preseident Barack Obama's planned trip to Germany in June is not going to be an official state visit. German diplomatic sources reportedly told Spiegel Online that the US president is planning a private trip in which he will go on a personal search to places of importance for his family history.
Obama's great-uncle, Charlie Payne, served in the 89th Infantry Division during World War II and participated in the liberation of Ohrdruf, a forced labor camp that was a satellite camp of Buchenwald. It's possible Obama could visit on June 5, one day before his planned participation in the celebrations of the 65th anniversary of the landing of the American troops in Normandy.
You can read the full story at: http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,623130,00.html.
This does not surprise me.
His maternal grandfather's lines has Pennsylvania Germans/Swiss - Berkheimer, Gutkneckt, Kieffer, Stroup while on his maternal grandmother's are Wolfley, Shockey and Toot, however these are more to the Pfalz, Hessen, Alsace and Switzerland, far from Thuringen and Saxony.
Posted by: W. David Samuelsen | May 08, 2009 at 02:41 AM
It's about time. It seems that he pretty much ignored his European ancestry during his campaign and the press didn't cover it much either.
Posted by: Kathleen | May 08, 2009 at 01:25 PM
Why does it seem hard to believe?
Posted by: Elaine | May 09, 2009 at 11:35 AM
I just started doing my research on the Teague Family and found out that President Obama is my 7th cousin 2 times removed. His grandmother is my 7th cousin.
Posted by: Barbara | May 09, 2009 at 04:15 PM
This can be a great boost for genealogy study everywhere, our own Pres.Obama visiting places of his ancestors. What better advertising can there be? Might be just what is needed to promote more interest in family history here in USA. And, get vendors in developing more products for genealogists,too.
Posted by: Madolyn Hayne | May 09, 2009 at 08:19 PM
How lucky to have the American taxpayers to pay for personal genealogy research!
Posted by: L. Esmann | June 07, 2009 at 08:59 AM