What does German citizenship mean? | DW Documentary

Germany celebrates 75 years of the Basic Law. What does a German passport mean to people coming from different backgrounds?
When the Federal Republic of Germany signed the Basic Law on May 23, 1949, a new path of liberal and democratic values was forged. But, at the same time, the second German state emerged, the socialist GDR. Since the reunification in 1990, a united Germany has become a key player of the international community. For many people, it has even become safe haven to move to. Increased immigration is the reason why Germany is growing, even though more people are dying than are being born. In June, a new law comes into force that regulates citizenship. What does the new regulation look like and what does it mean to have German citizenship today? DW reporter Loveday Wright investigated this question and met three people who have a very different relationship to Germany.
00:00 Introduction
00:48 Born to Turkish parents - Melisa Karakus
02:43 Looking back: Turkish “guest workers”
03:09 The new citizenship law
04:50 Immigration destination Germany
05:25 Munzer Khatab - A Syrian in Germany
08:40 75 years of Germany’s Basic Law
09:32 Pippa Goldschmidt - A German Jew’s granddaughter
11:59 Outro
#documentary #dwdocumentary #reporter
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[@EliseB-jh4yj]

I've had dual citizenship for a long time, being ethnically German but born and raised in Canada. Remember a lot of Germans left in past generations but their children may want to come back to Europe :) I find it very practical to have both passports.

[@sharinaross1865]

I do too.

[@chownful]

You have no loyalty.

[@lylecoglianese1645]

@@chownful, your comment is quite foolish! 🤔

[@chownful]

@@lylecoglianese1645 Why? It's the argument that is commonly made against dual citizenship. I don't think it's foolish to be suspicious of such individuals when they are seeking security clearances or other restricted areas.

[@er...]

@@chownful That is a red herring. No one was discussing "security clearances or other restricted areas." Moreover, citizenship does not dictate loyalties, nor does having only one negate foreign loyalties.

[@GeorgeLienemann]

I was born in Germany in 1948, to German parents, but my father emigrated to the USA and became a US citizen, a few years later he arranged for me to join him and when I reached the age of 18 arranged for me to become a USA citizen. I did not like giving up my German citizenship at that time or at any time later. So I am very happy that I can now finally regain my German citizenship, and still retain my USA citizenship.

[@ipdavid1043]

it is not identity.....it simply about making a life abroad

[@anasttau9908]

they don´t understand what identity means

[@Windona]

I have dual citizenship, neither of my parents were from the US but I was born here. Having European culture at home and American culture outside really gives an interesting perspective

[@genkiferal7178]

America is not Europe and European countries should NOT be pressured into becoming a melting pot like America has become. Japan and S. Korea should also stay as ethnically-pure as possible. It isn't true diversity if every country looks and feels largely like every other country.

[@Windona]

@@genkiferal7178 That's just ahistoric. Southern Germany was partly conquered by the Romans, who as a matter of rules moved people around their empire that encompassed the entire Mediterranean. Jews lived in Germany and vastly contributed to society for millenia, Roma have lived in the area for centuries. Any civilization that had vast trade networks tended to result in people moving around, interacting, and intermarrying. Even in Victorian times, London was a hotbed of cultures because Britain brought people in from all over their empire. France had something similar. If we go into Eastern European nations, they have a tangle of history involving Swedes and Middle Eastern trade, and again Romans. Even Japan and South Korea aren't as ethnically pure as people like to fantasize.

[@SierraApex]

I have dual US/Germany citizenship from my parents and have lived in the US most of my life. I feel very privileged to have German citizenship. When living abroad, Germany is not just another country to you, Germany is your country and you take interest and care about what is happening.

[@resnica3557]

What does German citizenship mean? 1. Fluent with German, 2. Addiction to Sauerkraut, 3. Never say a word about it when Nord Stream 2 got blown up.

[@RamSingh-hd6bg]

It means changing demography, democracy is nothing, demography decides everything. deciding who will govern the nation.

[@chownful]

Who passes the immigration laws in a democracy? Should people not be allowed to knowingly want a changing demography in a democracy?

[@genkiferal7178]

@@chownful yes, they should! the people do not have enough rights in democracies if they have outsiders pushed on them. if a people wants to stay heterogeneous, then they should be allowed to.

[@chownful]

@@genkiferal7178 but what about when the opposite happens and they do not want to be hetergeneous? will you still be accepting of it then?

[@itsoccamsrazor]

Demographics is destiny

[@genkiferal7178]

Mixed countries such as America and Australia are great and if they want to mix voluntarily, they should be able to. But, in America, there have been many fights between groups - and even the new Italian and Irish immigrants used to duke it out in the streets - even though both ere white and Catholic. When I was young I preferred to live in a mixed area - Manhattan, NYC - but experience has taught me that there will always be a bias towards ones own people and so now that I have less bravery and less energy, I'd rather live in a heterogeneous nation and community. Trust and acceptance are extremely hard to come by and having to figure out how others think is exhausting. I'd prefer a world with very limited immigration. That would mean citizens being willing to die to change their oppressive governments - instead of running away to other lands.

[@samshepperrd]

I can see why disallowing dual citizenship has merit. Here in the US travel agencies in countries not on friendly terms with the US bring groups of expectant women who only stay long enough to birth their child then apply for US citizenship, then return to their country of origin with US citizenship which gives them advantage in business and potentially espionage. It's important that all parties understand and agree that the migrant is integrating into their new country, not their new country being expected to integrate into the migrants values and customs. Both should respect the customs of the other. Though the new country should be the final arbitrator of what is allowed and what is not. Law of the new country should be applied equally to the migrant and new country citizens.

[@chownful]

It isn't from countries not on friendly terms - it's simply from countries with large populations seeking to immigrate and due to the current immigration system they would have to wait for 10 years to legally immigrate. We already know which countries bring the espionage...it's just a handful.

[@samshepperrd]

@@chownful No country should be held to solve a peoples' desire to expand their population without rational limits. Many countries work to set limits on population growth and limit the expansion of entitlements. This is every country's right. No one knows from what countries bad actors - spies, criminals, political anarchists come from. There well could be a Brazilian working for Russia attempting to enter the US tech sector to steal secrets to send on to Moscow. It's not a nation motivation. This would be purely monetary. And before you say 'we already have spies lie that in the US" - but with dual citizenship, an agency could commit their crime and quickly return to 'country A' which has no extradition to the us and live like a king - or fall out of a fifth story window.

[@da1vinci1edi]

So everyone should be exactly like you or they should go away ? Who do you people think you are?

[@samshepperrd]

@@da1vinci1edi 🤡🤡🤡🤡😦

[@da1vinci1edi]

@@samshepperrd You must be 13 or something watching tik tok all day otherwise you would share something more insightful. Funny how all these countries where everyone and everything is welcome and freedom is promoted demands you to be less free and to change yourself to be the same standard of everyone else... Trashbin hypocrites

[@kforest2745]

That she “had to choose between two identities and cultures” is underhanded cunning absurd the frame of thinking that disfigures

[@cmd7930]

Being actually German and German citizenship is different things. Germans are the ethnic people of northern Europe. You cant become that if you dont have the blood. And for people who will complain, can you become Arab, Native American or Japanese if you dont have the blood? No right.

[@POLITICUS-DANICUS]

Hear hear. I hate people who invalidate European ethncities while celebrating non-european ethncities.

[@alexandrugheorghe5610]

Your vision is the German vision. However, we all know the French vision is more progressive: you're German if you have citizenship

[@moniho6907]

You germans always say that, european I might add that's racist thing to say

[@POLITICUS-DANICUS]

@@moniho6907 you saying that recognizing that European ethncities is racists, is pretty fucking racist. Curb yourself, your hatred towards the European is showing.

[@helgagaines3598]

You're right... German is a unique ethnic people with different character traits as other European s... which is also unique to every European country..a wonderful tapestry of people. NOW, there are forces at Play who want to horde us all into ONE identity​ .. instead of celebrating our unique culture. o@@moniho6907

[@NoctLightCloud]

I've lived in a "multicultural" disctrict for 27yrs. It's bad when no one follows the rules, YOU have to pay for maintenance of what they broke, they don't understand anything, litter, are loud at night, and their teens roam around in packs and bully other kids. You can only say Yes to this if you've been to rich European holiday destinations and think that multiculturalism means you'll get Italian, French, Danish and Dutch neighbours.😅 Instead you'll get the third world all around you.

[@TheStockwell]

What does German citizenship mean? It's a chance for extremist comments from KZbinrs who will never set foot in Europe - but have a vague idea where it is. Thank you, @DW Documentary, for an informative documentary about your nation. In America, we rarely see anything other than far Left and far Right reporting. Balanced and nuanced journalism is a rare occurrence. Best wishes from Vermont 🍁

[@dekev7503]

SPOT ON these basement bound losers are gonna come running to the comments section

[@TheStockwell]

@@dekev7503 I especially enjoy how DW Documentary will premiere a 45 minute documentary and - no matter what it's about - comments start appearing within ten seconds. "More DW propaganda!" "This video is so biased!" "How come you never talk about (insert Whataboutism topic)?" Because, you know: actually WATCHING a documentary before slamming it makes no sense. 😏 Best wishes from Vermont to YOU! 🍁

[@jebuskmiest]

most aren't even German. Some of these people commenting are Indians and others are from the US. it's really funny

[@dekev7503]

@@TheStockwell They’re racist trolls that have nothing to do other than spread hate from their basements. Society has rejected them and they can only exist online. Best withes to you my friend, from Bremen, Germany 🇩🇪

[@henkstols9326]

Interesting, 30% of the German population aren't historically from the country. The people interviewed here seem very good quality individuals but majority arriving won't be of this calibre.

[@tkrdg7885]

It depends through which category, by academic, PhD degree persuing, or cooperative research, this is more for USA, from taking GRE, GMAT, or achieved scientists, or through Mexico border

[@peter_meyer]

@henkstols9326 "majority arriving won't be of this calibre" what makes you think this way? One-sided news?

[@MakeSomeNoiseAgencyPlaylists]

no borders - no country.....now you know why

[@peter_meyer]

@@MakeSomeNoiseAgencyPlaylists The EU has borders. But the EU is, just like the USA, a construct that has agreed to not check passports at the internal borders. If you are not familiar with this concept, i'd suggest you look into it. If you like strict borders, visit Gibraltar or the EU border with Turkey or Russia. Enjoy.

[@chownful]

@@peter_meyer USA is made up of internal states - not individual countries like the EU. You seem to be advocating for restricted interstate commerce and travel - I don't think the majority of Americans would support that view.

[@donbosco4746]

I am thinking about level one civilization we will never be because some people are still tribal!

[@jesseshadrack9326]

A lie.

[@ORISONTV]

your not native german , your just a foreigner in germany.

[@hawkingdawking4572]

Then why do they give away citizenship to foreigners? If not for immigration options, no one would care that much about Germany or rest of Europe.

[@celsocosta880]

Wait until YOU become foreigner in your country mate just like here in UK 😂😂😂

[@SonofNyanda]

OMG I SAW Mwl. J.Nyerere 2:15 -2:16 cool

[@MarianaDonna-pu8zd]

Revux success is not just a possibility; it's a certainty in my investment strategy. The project's unique features and community-driven approach set it apart for long-term growth.

[@ForceOfNatureRelaxation]

My goal is to get the pass and leave the depression land🎉🎉🎉

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

Emigration prospectives......

[@indiafirst3676]

It means you don't live in a politically independent country

[@peter_meyer]

Oh, and you think you do?

[@germandaddy907]

@@peter_meyerbut india is not a developed country so dosent matter

[@rohitsawant5805]

​@@peter_meyerYES, because Demographics is destiny. This applies for every single nation and people. German should wake up before it is too late.

[@jebuskmiest]

go back to India rohit 😅

[@peter_meyer]

@@rohitsawant5805 Wake up from what?

[@TJ-hs1qm]

the state is a jealous god

[@bananaparty928]

Apparently I need to comment aliens need a trace 🎩

[@DhibaTada]

German passport? No thank you. I am okay with my Turkish passport. Forget about me, even my dad was born in Berlin and we don't feel fully and equally German but my grandparents would tell us to keep us our Turkish identity and there were right. Choosing the Turkish passport over the German one was the best decision of our family. I feel sorry for people who feel German simply because of the German passport. It is a JOKE.

[@chownful]

Never lose your heritage for a document.

[@ingogotico1398]

But going back to Turkeeyeyie? Nooooooo wayyyyyy lmao

[@DhibaTada]

@@ingogotico1398 I am a nurse, so I work here.

[@cumgranosalisvenividivici6227]

But you like living there and earning money from Germany!Not in Turkey!!!That's really two faced position.

[@lukefleetwood7958]

Not very much, you could probably find cigarettes worth more than a German passport.

[@hopolang99]

Damn bro is that real?

[@tkrdg7885]

Like air when you feel choked, you notice air existence , when you are in Gaza, Rafa, Palestinian , Africa developing countries, you will appreciate German passport 🛂, Germany living standards,you will feel lucky you have German,/ French/, American passport 🛂

[@meetimian3383]

​@@tkrdg7885also the power of German passport which allow you to travel world without visa. Also working and not employeed benefit. Retirement wages and free medical.

[@tkrdg7885]

​@@meetimian3383developing countries, most people do not have money for traveling to foreign countries, regardless visa requirements

[@lukefleetwood7958]

@@tkrdg7885 I'm sure they would appreciate it, the problem is that they are given away to random foreigners far too easily. Like anything, the more you deprecate something and make it more common, the less value it has. Western passports are good because it supposedly guarantees that the person holding the card is from a good place and not some backwards shithole.

[@rrdls19]

living among Turks... I lived among them once and that was more than enough, I feel sorry for Germans

[@donbosco4746]

It’s no more a big deal only for people of the third world!

[@TheMialek360]

Masallah, sharia will soon be upon the you Germanzz.

[@user-ow6qy9km8w]

I hate living in multicultural cities; therefore, I left Germany eight years ago for Norway permanently.

[@rohitsawant5805]

Good. Germany was doomed post 2014 when Merkel opened the refugee floodgates for Muslims. I mean who invites their own self destruction.

[@celsocosta880]

Very good mate for leaving Germany for us Syrians 😂😂

[@Terraider]

Found the racist 😂

[@NoctLightCloud]

I'm also thinking of leaving Austria for Norway. Is the winter as bad as people say it is?

[@tride536]

I wonder what native Germans think about all this 😅

[@jebuskmiest]

some like it some don't. Some don't care

[@zayonafalcon]

Nothing even if you be a German citizen they underestimate you and in many authorities they don’t expect that you a German citizen 😂😂

[@Terraider]

So racism

[@zayonafalcon]

@@Terraider sure

[@NoctLightCloud]

​@@Terraideras everywhere. I've lived in East Asia - same thing there. I doubt it's any different in Africa.

[@flover566]

Bürgergeld

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for taking the time to comment. We kindly ask our viewers on this channel to engage with topics in English so that both DW and the community have the chance to respond. For further information, please refer to DW's netiquette policy: p.dw.com/p/MF1G Thanks for watching!

[@POLITICUS-DANICUS]

Propaganda!

[@peter_meyer]

Usually those who want to spread propaganda are the ones to call unbiased information "propaganda".

[@chrisj-zk1tg]

It must be so hard to see you're becoming the minority in your native home but it's time you accept it. You can either fight and drag it out or just welcome the new reality

[@rayanfermann3078]

If you compare propaganda in another countries, you will find this one is not! All my due respect to you!

[@dieterhofner7043]

Yeah despite that its just a couple of papers. Just as it was given it can be removed by decree.

[@peter_meyer]

@@dieterhofner7043 German citizenship cannot be revoked. One can voluntarily give it up. But even that is pretty difficult.

[@richthomas9170]

Even though I speak German.I refuse to speak it to German Strangers because I see the German Language as arrogant and racist.

[@NoctLightCloud]

you aren't German, so don't worry, they wouldn't want to speak to you, either😂

[@maryhildreth754]

Blood and soil

[@ORISONTV]

road to free money

[@ORISONTV]

you still turkey

[@zs5002]

Germany needs to find a way to allow those with German blood re integrate

[@genkiferal7178]

it may already have a rule where DNA testing gives you priority. Some other countries - including IsraEl - have this. Showing immigration papers from your grandparents should help, as well - though few people have those.

[@zs5002]

@@genkiferal7178 problem is it’s the great great grandparents who came to the US, but I’m still mostly German dna. But they’d rather diversify their land

[@Luis-hq8qv]

Like the descendants of N4zis in Latin America?

[@fluffybunny5238]

What kind of BS is that? My 80 yo grandfather, who’s 100% “German blood” is good staying where he is. The nationality is much more than genetics, which no one can influence. What you’re saying is basically the concept of “Lebensraum für Deutschen, “Herrenrasse” etc and I don’t think I need to remind you what these kinds of ideologies lead to.

[@zs5002]

@@fluffybunny5238 im sure you’ll change you’re mind when being genetically German is the minority in Germany lol

[@Mario-wg9fv]

Propaganda

[@gdf_6c]

Propaganda of what exactly?

[@jacques.cousteau]

@@gdf_6c pro-immigration globalist propaganda

[@blackthatha6960]

Most them don't deserve it.

[@Terraider]

Found the racist 😂

[@nicholashanson9508]

homogoneous societies are the happiest and safest. we should all aspire to live in homogenous societies

[@brazendesigns]

Haiti is very homogeneous. Explain.

[@mekonnenborena2557]

Somalia homogeneous, 99% Suni Muslim but "the most peaceful". It is impossible to be homogenous as long as there are liberals-left and the extreme right. At least people with Judo-Christian values can co-exist together with relative peace. The problem with the West specially Germany they imported a lot of Muslims and now they are feeling it.

[@Invictus888]

@@brazendesigns Rubbish!

[@samuelfraser9199]

theres no correlation. Haiti and Somalia are very homogenous and are not happy or safe places. The United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are not so homogenous and are all relatively happy and safe.

[@MrSpaceinvader95]

@@samuelfraser9199 if you live in the right areas.

[@Person-hh8uo]

Bring back the yellow star, that's all I have to say.

[@genkiferal7178]

and bring back the laws that show preference to the native peoples. no outsiders brainwashing your students, running your courts, running your media, or leading your people. and outlaw usury.

[@Person-hh8uo]

@@genkiferal7178 Well, whatever laws you chose you have to stop certian bad behavior and not be a schmuck, basically.

[@longdragon3]

This is crazy! I as a humanistic(more or less) 3rd world immigrant now living in Europe I find the whole idea of what the woman said about "live alongside each other many different cultrues we're living here togather" a joke. To say that all cultures can live togather in peace in a very naive human concept which is not realistic. I thing all of us should send migrant to Turkey such that Turkish people become the minority - it must be delightful to be a minority. It's like a person build ahouse through hard work and then someone eles comes in and claims that the house now equally belong to both.

[@Windona]

You've never been to a big city like NYC or London huh

[@hawkingdawking4572]

Germany gave visa to outsiders. Nobody forces them to do it. Once the citizenship stops and immigration is curtailed, nobody would bother to go to Germany.

[@MrSpaceinvader95]

@@Windona maybe they have and they noticed all the police and cameras huh

[@Windona]

@@MrSpaceinvader95 Huh, maybe it's because I don't live in a big city but I manage to live in a place with people from all over without issue. People of different cultures have interacted and lived with each other throughout human history, it's how things like 'large trade networks' and 'cosmopolitan cities' work.

[@justinbrowne2071]

Germany is german period if ur not born of that blood u cant claim to be of the countrh

[@generalkhalid1192]

Are you american?

[@justinbrowne2071]

Nope

[@peter_meyer]

I know a guy who's parents came from Kurdistan. He calls himself "german". He was born in Germany. He doesn't speak turkish or kurdish. He never learned to do so. His parents decided to fully integrate into Germany. To me, he _is_ german.

[@germandaddy907]

@@peter_meyerto most germans he is not ..

[@gdf_6c]

Aside from Native Americans, no-one can claim to be American (as in the entirety of the Americas)? What about people with mixed heritage (i.e., almost everyone)? They should all be stateless?