German Citizenship

During the early 20th century, on the cusp of and following the First World War, a significant migration occurred as thousands of Jews from Eastern Europe relocated to Germany. Referred to as "Ostjuden" or "Jews of the East,” these individuals held citizenships from the largest empires prior to WWI, the Russian Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. These eventually became Poland, Lithuania, Czechoslovakia, and other Eastern European countries. However, due to barriers or inadequacies, obtaining German citizenship proved challenging. When these families had children in Germany, their offspring inherited their father's citizenship. With the rise of the Nazi regime, the opportunity for acquiring German citizenship vanished, compelling these families to hastily flee Germany without the chance to pursue or secure German citizenship.

Until recently, descendants of these Jewish families faced obstacles in obtaining German citizenship as their forebears had not held it, even if they were born within German territory. However, in a pivotal decision in 2021, the German government decided to rectify this historical injustice. Presently, anyone who can substantiate their lineage as descendants of Jewish families that resided permanently in Germany and were compelled to leave during the Nazi era is entitled to naturalization in Germany. This marks a belated restoration of family rights, addressing the profound injustice inflicted upon these families for decades.