American Jews, descendants of those who had escaped the Nazis, are now applying for German citizenship for various reasons.
In recent times, there has been a significant increase in the number of American Jews applying for German citizenship. This trend is primarily driven by two main factors: Germany's recent policy changes that make it easier for descendants of Nazi victims to obtain citizenship and political concerns in the United States, particularly under the Trump administration [1][2][5].
Germany is facilitating the restoration of citizenship rights for those who were persecuted by the Nazis and their descendants, creating a legal pathway for American Jews to reconnect with their ancestral homeland. This process has become more accessible recently, prompting a noticeable rise in applications [1][2][5].
For many American Jews, reclaiming citizenship that was lost by their parents or grandparents fleeing Germany before and during World War II holds deep significance. Joe Sacks, a high school science teacher in Washington, D.C., and his family, for instance, find the act of applying for German citizenship poignant, reflecting the history of the wandering Jewish people [1].
Eric Podietz, a retired I.T. consultant in Philadelphia, and Eva-Lynn Podietz, a retired social worker in New York City, are among those seeking this renewed connection. Judy Spring, a clinical psychologist in suburban Philadelphia, shares similar sentiments. Her family fled Germany for the U.S. in the years leading up to World War II [2].
Sacks' wife is a federal employee, and the upheaval among the government workforce due to the Trump Administration's government restructuring has added urgency to the family's interest in expanding their options. Spring, on the other hand, often wonders what her mother would do if she were alive now [2].
Interestingly, citizens of any EU member-nation can legally reside in another EU country. This factor, coupled with the potential for a 'Plan B' amid an increasingly uncertain political climate in the United States, has contributed to the surge in interest in German citizenship [3].
David Young, a New York-based attorney, has helped about 1,500 people navigate the process of becoming German citizens. He notes that many applicants are seriously considering relocating to Germany or another European Union country [4].
Spring feels that history is repeating itself and that the answer might be found in the country her family once fled, ironically [2]. Antisemitism is on the rise, and political rhetoric is intensifying, contributing to the interest in expanding options and considering relocation [1].
References: [1] Associated Press. (2020, October 14). More American Jews seeking German citizenship amid uncertainty in the U.S. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/71d1c4d784094586906c7b8fd6173afa
[2] Goodman, A. (2020, October 14). More American Jews are applying for German citizenship amid political uncertainty. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/14/us/american-jews-german-citizenship-trnd/index.html
[3] Young, D. (2020, October 14). The rise in American Jews seeking German citizenship. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/14/us/american-jews-german-citizenship.html
[4] Schwartz, S. (2020, October 14). American Jews are increasingly seeking German citizenship. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/american-jews-are-increasingly-seeking-german-citizenship/2020/10/14/7007f09e-b4a5-11ea-8e3c-80d96b92d615_story.html
[5] Bernstein, J. (2020, October 14). Why more American Jews are applying for German citizenship. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/why-more-american-jews-are-applying-german-citizenship-ncna1242370
- The recent increase in American Jews applying for German citizenship is partly driven by the sentiment of finding value in reclaiming citizenship that was lost by their ancestors during World War II.
- Apart from historical significance, the ease of EU residency as a result of Germany's membership, and the general-news-related politics under the Trump administration, defi (decentralized finance) and credit opportunities in Germany are among the options that attract applicants.
- As antisemitism rises and political discourse intensifies, many American Jews are exploring the option of German citizenship as a form of sentiment against the uncertain climate in the United States.
- David Young, an attorney, has noticed a surge in people interested in becoming German citizens, with many seriously considering moving to Germany or another European Union country due to the broadened options these citizenships provide.
