By Christine Stenner, German Attorney in the United States at Stenner Law| Foreign Legal Consultant (PA) | May 31, 2026
I recently sat down with Maiken Scott, German-born U.S. journalist and radio host, to discuss German citizenship routes for Americans with German Jewish roots and other families affected by Nazi persecution.
Many descendants are surprised to learn that Germany may offer a legal path to citizenship, even if their families left Germany generations ago. For many, this is about more than a second passport. It is about recognition, restitution, freedom, and new opportunities for future generations.
What We Discuss in the Video
In this conversation, we discuss:
- German citizenship for descendants of German Jews
- German citizenship restoration under Article 116(2) of the German Basic Law
- New legal pathways created by Germany’s 2021 citizenship reform
- Section 15 StAG for families affected by Nazi persecution
- Dual citizenship for U.S. citizens
- The practical benefits of a German passport
- Why many families who were previously excluded may now qualify
Who May Qualify?
Germany’s 2021 reform expanded access to citizenship for many families affected by Nazi persecution who previously fell into legal gaps.
This may include:
- Descendants of former German citizens who lost citizenship before formal Nazi denaturalization
- Descendants of people persecuted for racial, religious, or political reasons who lived in Germany but were not German citizens
- Descendants of German Jews and other victims of Nazi persecution whose families were excluded from earlier citizenship restoration provisions but became eligible under Germany’s 2021 reform
No German Language or Residency Requirement
For many German citizenship restoration and restitution cases, applicants do not need to speak German and do not need to live in Germany.
This is especially important for families in the United States whose parents, grandparents, or great grandparents were forced to leave Germany during the Nazi era.
Benefits of German Citizenship
German citizenship can offer:
- The right to live, work, and study in all 27 European Union member states
- Greater travelling freedom
- More educational and professional opportunities
- Long term security for children and grandchildren
- A meaningful connection to family history
Why This Work Matters
As a German attorney practicing in the United States, I help families understand whether they may qualify, identify the correct legal pathway, gather the necessary documents, and prepare German citizenship applications.
This work is personally meaningful to me. Helping descendants of families persecuted during the Nazi era reclaim rights that were taken from them is both a professional responsibility and a personal privilege.
Watch the video to learn more about German citizenship restoration, dual citizenship, and the legal options available to many descendants of German Jews and other families affected by Nazi persecution.
About the author
Christine Stenner is a German attorney with 30 years of experience. She is admitted to practice German law in the United States and focuses exclusively on German citizenship law for clients living in the United States. At STENNER LAW, she assists applicants with restoring or reclaiming German citizenship through declaration, re-naturalization, and restitution-based applications.
