Legal Regulation of the Restitution of German Citizenship to Victims of Nazism and Their Descendants

The article examines the issues and trends in the development of German citizenship law in the context of restoring the legal bond with Germany for victims of Nazi persecution and their descendants. It analyzes the evolution of approaches to defining the categories of eligible persons and the legal mechanisms for acquiring German citizenship. Particular attention is paid to the shift from a restrictive interpretation of the provisions regarding the restoration of citizenship for this category of persons toward a broader understanding of citizenship as a form of legal restitution. The study also considers the transition from administrative decision-making in matters concerning the grant of German citizenship to such persons to the legislative recognition of their right to naturalization.