Naturalisation of victims of Nazi persecution and their descendants

Germany Citizenship

German citizenship for descendants of Nazi persecuted

The German Citizenship Law, which entered into force on 20.8.2021, expands the circle of those entitled to German citizenship. Now, German citizens persecuted by the Nazis in the years 30.01.1933 to 08.05.1945 who lost their German citizenship or gave it up before 26.02.1955, for example due to an application for the acquisition of foreign citizenship, waiver according to an application or marriage with a foreign citizen, or the acquisition of German citizenship Refrained from them in these circumstances. The right of citizenship also exists for descendants without the need for the family member on whom they rely in order to obtain citizenship to also obtain citizenship.

Who is entitled to have his/ her German citizenship restored?

Former German citizens who between 30 January 1933 and 8 May 1945 were deprived of their citizenship on political, racial, or religious grounds may have their citizenship restored. This applies equally to their descendants.

What are the cases were citizenship was deprived on political, racial, or religious grounds?

The citizenship was deprived on political, racial, or religious grounds:

• lost automatically pursuant to Section 2 of the 11th Decree Implementing the Reich Citizens Act of 25 November 1941 (this applied to all German citizens of Jewish faith who had their habitual residence abroad when the ordinance entered into force or later)

• deprived on an individual basis under the Act on Revocation of Naturalization and Deprivation of German Citizenship of 14 July 1933.

What happens if meanwhile one acquired another citizenship by application?

Anyone who after being deprived of their German citizenship acquired a foreign citizenship by application is entitled to have his/her German citizenship restored. This also applies to descendants.

Which descendants are entitled to claim restoration of German citizenship?

Descendants for the purposes of Article 116 (2) GG are all descendants to a person who was

deprived of his/her German citizenship between 30 January 1933 and 8 May 1945.