German Citizenship Restoration

Although mostly Jews, others also lost their claim to the rights and protections of citizenship including, for example, Communists, Socialists, members of the Social Democratic party, Conscientious Objectors, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Quakers.

In some cases, the deprivation of citizenship occurred specifically with the publication of an individual's name in the Reich Law Gazette (Reichsgesetzblatt).

Residents of Nazi Germany could apply for an Ahnenpass if they could prove "German blood" and were thus deemed to be "Aryans".

The Ahnenpass was necessary to be eligible for government-regulated occupations such as civil servant, teacher, or lawyer,[7] and later to attend school or marry.

Under Article 116 (paragraph 2) of Germany's Basic Law, any citizen during the Nazi regime, or his or her descendants, who lost his or her citizenship for "political, racist, or religious reasons" has the right to have it reinstated.

Also those born after that date with a mother or grandmother who had lost her German citizenship on marrying a foreign national, whether before or after fleeing from Nazi Germany.

While not providing an automatic right to citizenship, as available to others, two decrees of 30 August 2019 provide those applying for naturalisation under the above circumstances a somewhat privileged status, dropping many requirements for naturalisation otherwise required, leaving only "a basic level of the German language, and basic knowledge of the legal and social order and the living standards prevailing in Germany".