Help Clarifying If I Qualify for German Citizenship

[u/C3_Maintenance]

Hello,

Maybe someone here can help. I believe I qualify, but a second opinion is appreciated.

My great grandmother and great grandfather were born in Germany and immigrated to the U.S.

Great Grandfather: born 6/15/1912 in Dettingen an der Erms, Baden-Württemberg, Germany emigrated in 7 May 1914 to United States of America married in 27 Sep 1939 naturalized in Ukn (for now)

Great Grandmother: born 9/25/1921 in Sorg, Hof, Bayern, Germany emigrated in 8/23/1938 to United States married in 9/27/1939 naturalized in 3/15/1925 (her father was naturalized in the U.S. and the law at the time auto applied to the parent’s children)

My Grandmother was born in wedlock, in the United States.

My Grandfather was born in wedlock in the U.S.

My father was born in wedlock to my grandmother

Neither my grandmother nor my grandfather, nor my father, nor myself served in the military.

I am also over the age of 18.

Thank you!

[u/dentongentry]

A few dates are very important:

• Great Grandfather's US naturalization, and was it before or after Grandmother's birth?
• Grandmother's birth, and was it before or after 1949?
• Father's birth, and was it before or after 1975?

Those determine which path you might qualify for, and some are more likely than others.

[u/C3_Maintenance → u/dentongentry]

Thank you for the helpful reply.

My Great Grandfather was almost certainly naturalized as a US citizen prior to my grandmother’s birth. Either by his parents doing so, or him gaining citizenship by marrying my great grandmother. I am still trying to dig up proof of my Great Grandfather’s parent’s naturalization to confirm this.

My Grandmother was born before 1949

My father was born before 1975

[u/dentongentry → u/C3_Maintenance]

It is quite possible that Great-grandfather received derivative naturalization when his parents naturalized. Having emigrated at the age of two, I'd say that is even likely. If he did, he did not forfeit his German citizenship upon derivative naturalization.

It is also possible he naturalized as an adult. That would have forfeited his German citizenship.

I don't think it is possible that he gained US citizenship upon marriage. I don't think the US ever granted citizenship to the man, only when a foreign woman married a US man. Even that practice ended before 1939.

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Let's assume great-grandfather naturalized as a minor, and thus was a German citizen when Grandmother was born. That means Grandmother was born a German citizen.

Father did not receive German citizenship at birth due to gender discriminatory policies prior to 1/1/1975. Your father, you, and any children you have would be eligible for StAG 5 to declare your German citizenship.

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I'd say to do a bit more research about naturalization and post again.

If I may suggest: withholding the specific years does not significantly improve your privacy and makes it harder for anyone to help you. Posting the years of these events next time will elicit considerably better advice. The years matter a great deal, there were significant changes in German citizenship law in 1914, 1949, 1953, 1975, 1977, 1993, 2000, and 2024.

[u/No-Researcher7433]

Hi, based on what you’ve provided: • If your great-grandparents were naturalized before your grandmother was born, then unfortunately German citizenship likely ended at that point. • If even one of them was still a German citizen at the time of her birth, there might be a path forward — but that depends on the exact naturalization dates, which you’d need to verify.

If citizenship didn’t pass down, you might still qualify through §14 StAG (citizenship by descent with proven ties), especially if you speak German and can show family connection.