It's been a month and a half since I started the process of applying for German citizenship by descent under Section 5 of the Nationality Act (StAG §5). I've made some progress, but I've also hit a few snags. So far, I have been able to get an offical document from the German government that lists my grandparents' information and is the main document I need to prove the lineage chain and discrimination.
Currently, I am waiting on an official copy of my grandmother's birth certificate from Germany to continue the proof required for lineage chain. With that said, I did hit some snags when it came to my great-grandparents. It appears they were not married when my grandmother was born, and in finding that out it appears my great-grandmother passed away young.
I don't know how that might impact my application, but I'm gathering as much information from my great-grandmother—birth certificates, death certificates, etc.—to see if I can prove that she was a German citizen at the time of my grandmother's birth, just in case.
The Paper Trail
The interesting thing about all of this is the unique stories uncovered while researching each family member and putting together's someones life story one piece at a time. You will never really know your ancestors, but you can get a glimpse into their lives through the documents they leave behind.
I'll keep you updated as I continue the process.
-M