Article 116(2): restoring citizenship for descendants of Nazi persecution

If your ancestors lost their German citizenship through Nazi-era persecution between 1933 and 1945 — denaturalised, forced to flee, or stripped of nationality on political, racial or religious grounds — their descendants may reclaim it under Article 116(2) of the German Basic Law.

Why it is so generous

It is one of the most open citizenship routes anywhere: no generational cap, no deadline, generally no fee, and no language or residence test. Most cases involve Jewish families, but the legal test is persecution, not religion.

The evidence is the work

What matters is the record: denaturalisation entries, emigration or deportation documents, or archive holdings such as the Arolsen Archives. Finding those records is the hard part — and it is exactly what this guide helps with.

General information, not legal advice. German nationality law turns on exact dates, places and documents — confirm your situation with the responsible authority or a qualified lawyer.