Can I claim citizenship through “jus sanguis?”
My paternal grandparents emigrated to South Africa from Berlin in 1933. My father was born in 1940 in Johannesburg and never claimed German citizenship.
ask this question in r/GermanCitizenship
Not enough information.
Did any one in yours direct line naturalize, meaning become citizen of an other country? (Other then at birth) Becoming a citizen of an other country is automatic loose of german citizenship. Dates matter.
Fathers Line: everyone born in wedlock? Yes: easy - get marriage certificate. If not: the father does need to be the father under german law. This means consent of the mother and father. Some birth certificates count, some do not.
Next: get birth and marriage certificates of all relevant ancestors. If not born in wedlock: your last time under german law might not match your current last name.
What year where you born?
If your grandparents lost their citizenship due to them being Jewish (projecting this as you mentioned they left in 1933 and you are Israeli) I think you might qualify as a victim of Nazi persecution. There are specific rules regarding nationalisation in place for this group. Have a look online: https://www.germany.info/us-en/-/2370240
Keywords: Isreali citzenship and emigrated in 1933: Assuming you grandparents fled nazi prosecution or other discrimination: look up Stag 15. You may be eligible trough that route.
1933 is a bit on the edge, the law says 30 January 1933. That can be tricky to proof.
hey, that’s a unique situation! you might be able to claim citizenship through jus sanguis given your family history. it’s worth looking into and seeking advice from professionals who specialize in German citizenship. good luck!
Did they naturlize and renounced German nationality?
If they did the only way to get nationality us if you’re Jewish, because the assumption is your family were being prosecuted.
They only allow this because that same range of time saw a lot of “losing side Germans” running away, and they don’t have the right to the cirizenship.
I actually overheard a consul explain all this to a local family as they wanted grandma to get the nacionality and pass it down, but their gran daddy renounced 😬
Do you have the birth certificate of your great grandfather? Do you have the birth certificate of your grand mother? Was your grandmother born in Germany?
As far as I know citizen does not pass through the mothers side.
I personally don’t have my paternal Opa or Omi’s birth certificates, but they were both born in Germany. How would I access those documents? Can I email someone?
There’s a very helpful Facebook group called “Holocaust Descendants with Restored Citizenship to Austria and Germany” where I’m certain people can help you with specifics. I can’t help you with Germany but was able to obtain Austrian nationality with a similar background.