The nationality law of 1913

In 1913, Germany enacted a new nationality law, which removed the requirement of the consular registration as ground for the loss of the German citizenship.

The new law benefited directly who would come to migrate after 1904, once the requirement for consular registration would no longer be required for German citizens living abroad for longer than 10 years.

It also corrected the problems caused to Germans who had lost their citizenship for not registering by adding new provisions which granted them the right to re-naturalise.

§13
A former German who has not taken up his residence in Germany may on application be naturalised by the State of which he was formerly a citizen, provided his case fulfils the requirements of Nos. 1 and 2 of paragraph 1 of § 8; the same applies to one who is descended from a former German or has been adopted as a child of such. Prior to naturalisation a report must be made to the Imperial Chancellor; if he raises objections, naturalisation does not take place.

The paragraph 8 mentioned above, lists all requirements for a foreigner to naturalise German. For former Germans, the requirement was limited to the need of the applicant to be legally capable or appoint a legal representative.

The article 31 has been also added specifically to resolve the question of former Germans affected by the consular registration requirement:

§ 31.
A former German, who prior to the going into force of this law has by ten years residence abroad lost citizenship in accordance with the provisions of §21 of the law of June 1, 1870, relative to the acquisition and loss of Federal and State citizenship (Imperial Law Gazette, page 355), must be naturalised by the Federal State within whose territory he has taken up his residence, provided he is a citizen of no country.
The same applies to a former citizen of a Federal State, or of a State which has been incorporated in such a State, who prior to the going into effect of the law of June 1, 1890, has by residence outside his home State lost his citizenship in accordance with the common law.

However when the national socialist regime came to power, provisions which were so important for the resolution of the damages caused by the consular registration requirement and that granted any former German citizen legal means to restore their citizenships were removed.

Next: THE NATIONAL SOCIALIST DECREE OF 1935

ARTICLE 116 2
THE CONSULAR REGISTRATION
THE NATIONALITY LAW OF 1913
THE NATIONAL SOCIALIST DECREE OF 1935
DAMAGES TO THE GERMAN COMMUNITIES ABROAD
EQUALITY
OUR PETITION