If your ancestors were German and lived in Germany before or during the Nazi years, you are most likely eligible for citizenship. In Nazi law, leaving the country could be reason enough to strip Jews (communists, political enemies, and others) of their citizenship.
Today, the German Basic Law (Grundgesetz) grants you the right to reclaim the citizenship taken away from your ancestors by the Nazis.
Not sure if they had German citizenship?
- If they lived in Germany but were stateless or Polish, read more here.
- If they spoke German but lived outside of Germany, find out more here.
What’s the exact legal ground?
In 1941, the Nazis issued an order that deprived every Jewish person or enemy of the Reich who had left Germany of their citizenship. Today, the German constitution (Grundgesetz) grants every person who was thus deprived of German citizenship the right to become German again – including all their descendants. This is guaranteed by Article 116 cl 2 auf the German Grundgesetz, or Basic Law.