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In depth
The Grundgesetz (Basic Law) is the German constitution, adopted on May 23, 1949. It is the supreme law of Germany — any law inconsistent with it is void.
Article 116 of the Grundgesetz contains Germany's citizenship restitution provision, which restores citizenship to those deprived of it by the Nazi regime between 1933 and 1945, and to their descendants.
The Grundgesetz was originally intended as a temporary constitution until German reunification, but it was retained after 1990 and remains in force. It has been amended over 60 times.
Related terms
Article 116 of the German Basic Law (Grundgesetz) restores German citizenship to those deprived of it by the Nazi regime between 1933 and 1945, and to their descendants.
The Reichsbürgergesetz (Reich Citizenship Law) of 1935 was the Nazi-era law that stripped German Jews of their citizenship, and whose victims are eligible for Article 116 restitution.
StAG (Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz) is the German Nationality Act, which includes §15 providing for naturalization of victims of Nazi persecution and their descendants.
The BVA (Bundesverwaltungsamt, Federal Office of Administration) is the German authority in Cologne that processes Article 116 citizenship restitution applications.
The Bundesarchiv (Federal Archives) is the German national archives, which holds the Reichsbürgergesetz deprivation records needed for Article 116 cases.
The Arolsen Archives (International Center on Nazi Persecution) is the world's largest archive on Nazi persecution, holding records relevant to Article 116 restitution claims.