Wunderlich family, whose children were taken by German officials (right); and the Romeike family, who won political asylum in the US, but the Obama administration is seeking to send them back to Germany, where their children would also be taken by German officials.

The Telegraph headlines last week read, "Angela Merkel wins historic third term in German elections.

Angela Merkel vowed that she would deliver more “successful years for Germany” as exit polls indicated a commanding lead...