Over 50,000 Granted German Citizenship in Restitution for Nazi Injustice Since 2021

Since the reform of the German citizenship law in 2021, more than 50,000 people and their descendants, who suffered injustice under National Socialism, have been granted German citizenship. The Federal Ministry of the Interior disclosed this data in response to a parliamentary inquiry by Linke MP Ferat Kocak. Between early 2021 and the end of March 2026, a total of 101,180 applications for restitution naturalization were submitted to the Federal Administration Office, with 52,180 approvals granted.

This specialized naturalization process is markedly simpler than regular procedures. The 2021 reform significantly expanded the circle of eligible applicants, including Jewish persons and others who lost or were denied German citizenship between 1933 and 1945 due to political, racial, or religious persecution. Unlike standard naturalization, applicants for restitution citizenship are not required to demonstrate German language proficiency, reflecting the law’s aim to facilitate their reacquisition of citizenship.

Many applicants have complex refugee backgrounds and predominantly come from countries like Israel and the United Kingdom, where numerous Jews found refuge during and after the Nazi era. The low rejection rate and prolonged processing times highlight the sustained demand and administrative challenges involved in these restitution cases.

This legal reform underscores Germany’s commitment to addressing historical injustices by restoring citizenship rights to those affected by Nazi persecution and their descendants, thus acknowledging and compensating for past wrongs.