FAQs
Former German citizens who were deprived of their citizenship between January 30, 1933 and May 8, 1945. Likewise, the descendants of such a person may be eligible.
No. Unlike the law in the United States for instance, until the year 2000 German law operated under the principle of jus sanguinis (blood law) only. Until then, under German law, citizenship was passed on by parents only and not by a person’s place of birth. Thus, not everyone born in Germany was afforded German citizenship. This law was partially amended in the year 2000 for those born in Germany after that and, and therefore, the amendment would not be relevant to you and your family. Once we review the facts of your case, we can determine if there was a German citizen in your family.
Someone is considered to have been deprived of German citizenship for political, religious or racial reasons if German citizenship was deprived under Article 2 of Section 11 of the Citizenship Law of the Reich dated Nov 25, 1941. This law quite sweepingly deprived all German Jews of their citizenship who, at the time the law took effect or thereafter did not reside in Germany. Likewise, anyone deprived of German citizenship on an individual basis under the Law Regarding the Voiding of Naturalizations and Deprivation of Citizenship of July 14, 1933, would also be considered to have been deprived of his citizenship for political religious or racial reasons.
Restoration of German citizenship under the German law is not automatic. An eligible individual must make an application for restoration of citizenship to the German government. This also applies to such a person’s descendants.
Anyone who became a citizen of another country after having been deprived of German citizenship for political, religious or racial reasons is nevertheless eligible for restoration of German citizenship. This also applies to the descendants of a former German citizen. Please note, however, that a person who became a citizen of another country prior to having been deprived of German citizenship is not eligible for restoration under this law.
Any descendant of a person deprived of German citizenship is entitled to restoration, but only if the descendant would have been considered a German citizenship under German law had the deprivation not taken place. Through a thorough analysis of your family’s history, we can make the necessary determination about a descendant’s status vis-à-vis German citizenship.
Any evidence that: (1) proves that you or your ancestor was a German national prior to having been deprived of citizenship between 1933 and 1945; (2) establishes that you or your ancestor acquired another citizenship after having been deprived of German citizenship; (3) links you to the former German national (such as birth and marriage certificates).
We will make every attempt to obtain all necessary documents for your successful application through various state and federal agencies in Germany.