US Jews, who previously escaped Nazis, are now considering Germany as an alternative plan amidst the presidency of Donald Trump.
In recent years, an increasing number of Jewish-American descendants of Nazi-era refugees have chosen to apply for German citizenship. This trend, driven by both expanded legal avenues and concerns about the resurgence of far-right extremism and hostility in Germany’s modern political environment, has seen a significant rise in applications from those with historical ties to the country.
The legal framework in Germany allows victims of Nazi repression and their descendants, now extended to great-grandchildren, to reclaim their citizenship under certain provisions. Since 2021, the lifting of previous generational restrictions has opened eligibility to more distant descendants, requiring documentation such as archival proof of persecution. While language proficiency and other requirements apply, some special exemptions exist for those born before 1945 or their direct descendants.
One such individual is Erin Levi, who successfully obtained German citizenship after discovering her grandfather's US alien ID card, which indicated his original citizenship was in Germany. Levi feels safer in Germany than in other countries where anti-Semitism is on the rise and believes that Germany has become a strong ally and supporter of Israel.
Another case is that of Steve North, who made the decision to apply for German citizenship in 2020 out of fear that Trump would be re-elected. North wrote that receiving his naturalization papers from the former consul general felt wonderful because it reminded him of the knowledge and wisdom lost by expelling and murdering Jews.
However, the decision to apply for German citizenship has not always been an easy one. Anne Barnett's mother was initially upset about her desire for German citizenship due to the atrocities committed against her family. But as anti-Semitism in the United States continues to rise, Barnett's mother came around to the idea.
Susan Mayerowitz, whose grandparents were forced to flee Germany in the 1930s, agreed to gather the necessary documents for German citizenship reluctantly. Mayerowitz convinced his mother by highlighting the work and educational opportunities the EU could offer, and the potential safety for his daughter in case of persecution.
The modern political climate in Germany plays a contextual role in this trend. Far-right parties like the AfD (Alternative for Germany) and others have seen significant electoral gains in eastern Germany since 2024, with nationalist, xenophobic, and anti-Semitic rhetoric becoming more mainstream. This has caused concern among many Jewish communities, prompting them to solidify their connection to Germany through citizenship as a precaution and a statement of identity rather than a purely practical move.
This dynamic is reflected in recent reporting that highlights Jewish-American interest in German citizenship not only for practical benefits such as EU mobility but also as a response to the resurgence of authoritarian and xenophobic political forces in Germany, signaling a complex relationship with their ancestral homeland.
- The expansion of the legal framework in Germany in 2021 allows descendants of Nazi-era victims, including great-grandchildren, an opportunity to reclaim their German citizenship with proper documentation.
- Erin Levi, one such individual, successfully obtained German citizenship following the discovery of her grandfather's US alien ID card, affirming her belief in Germany's support of Israel and greater safety in the face of rising anti-Semitism.
- Steve North made the decision to apply for German citizenship in 2020, citing concerns about political instability in the United States and a sentiment of reclaiming lost knowledge and wisdom.
- Anne Barnett's decision to pursue German citizenship was initially met with resistance from her mother due to the atrocities committed against her family; however, as anti-Semitism in the United States escalated, her mother became more supportive.
- Susan Mayerowitz, whose grandparents fled Germany in the 1930s, was initially reluctant to apply for German citizenship; she overcame this hesitation by highlighting the career and education opportunities that EU membership provides, as well as the potential safety for her family in times of persecution.
- The surge of far-right parties like the AfD in eastern Germany since 2024, with their xenophobic, nationalist, and anti-Semitic rhetoric, fosters increasing concern within Jewish communities, causing many to seek German citizenship as a precaution and marker of identity in the context of their ancestral homeland.
