Germany investigates suspected citizenship fraud involving descendants of Nazi victims
In Germany, the Düsseldorf prosecutor’s office is investigating a case involving 32 people, many of whom are Chinese citizens. According to the Jerusalem Post, citing Der Spiegel, they are suspected of posing as descendants of Jews persecuted by the Nazis in order to fraudulently obtain German citizenship.
Der Spiegel reports that forged documents and false biographical information were submitted to the Federal Office of Administration in Cologne. According to the publication, the Düsseldorf prosecutor’s office and Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office have been working on the case for about a year.
Restoration of citizenship
The case is linked to Article 116, paragraph 2, of Germany’s Basic Law. This provision provides for the restoration of citizenship to former German citizens who were stripped of it for political, racial, or religious reasons between January 30, 1933, and May 8, 1945, as well as to their descendants.
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According to Der Spiegel, one episode involves Chinese citizen Liu H., who, the magazine reports, is being sought internationally on suspicion of kidnapping and murder. The publication claims that he used fabricated biographies, new names, and false identities to evade Chinese justice.
Applicants abroad
In 2024, according to Der Spiegel, Liu H. obtained German citizenship under the name Derrick Wong and later received a passport. In his application, he described himself as the grandson of Karl Siegfried and Gertraud Süskind, who fled Germany to Mandatory Palestine. The magazine notes that Liu H. is not their descendant.
Another Chinese citizen, Tian S., who lives in London, also, according to the magazine, received a German passport after claiming to be related to the same couple. All of the accused reportedly live outside Germany — in Cyprus, Israel, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In approximately half of the cases, German citizenship has already been granted. Der Spiegel also noted that unlawful naturalization in Germany can only be revoked within 10 years.
