Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T20:52:09.280Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Loss of Citizenship by Revocation of Naturalization or ex lege: Overview of German Case Law and Legislative Changes of 2009

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 March 2019

Extract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

In recent years, German nationality law was subject to changes. Several legal issues that had previously not been decided by the Bundesverwaltungsgericht (Federal Administrative Court—FAC) and the Bundesverfassungsgericht (Federal Constitutional Court—FCC) were clarified by these courts. Still, some questions had been left unanswered; the courts explicitly demanded that parliament become active. Issues were namely the time limit for revocation of naturalization, the effect of revocations on third parties (like children) that had been naturalized at the same time and the effects of the discontinuance of certain premises that had been the condition for the obtainment of citizenship by children ex lege on their naturalization. Parliament complied with this call to action; in February of 2009, the changes came into force.

Type
Developments
Copyright
Copyright © 2011 by German Law Journal GbR 

References

1 Cf. Bundestag Drucksachen [BT] 16/10528, at 2 (Ger.).Google Scholar

2 Bundesgesetzblatt [BGBl. I] [Federal Law Gazette], 6 Feb. 2009, at I 158 (Ger.).Google Scholar

3 This applies to children who obtained German citizenship by birth along with their parents’ citizenship and have to decide which citizenship they want to keep as soon as they turn eighteen (Sec. 29 StAG).Google Scholar

4 Oberverwaltungsgericht Münster [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Münster], 2 Sept. 1996, 10 Nordrhein-Westfälische Verwaltungsblätter (NWVBl) 71 (72), 1997 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Gießen [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Gießen], 7 June 2004, Entscheidungen des Bundesverwaltungsgerichts [BVerwGE] 2666/03 (Ger.).Google Scholar

5 Verwaltungsgericht Schleswig [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Schleswig], 19 Feb. 2001, BVerwGE 178/98 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgerichtshof München [VGH] [Higher Administrative Court of München], 17 June 2002, BVerwGE 01.1385 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Augsburg [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Augsburg], 13 May 2003, BVerwGE 03.212 (Ger.).Google Scholar

6 Bundesverwaltungsgericht [BVerwG] [Federal Administrative Court], 3 June 2003, 118 BVerwGE 216 (221) (Ger.); Bundesverwaltungsgericht [BVerwG] [Federal Administrative Court], 9 Sept. 2003, 119 BVerwGE 17 (19) (Ger.).Google Scholar

7 Bundesverfassungsgericht [BVerfG] [Federal Constitutional Court], 24 May 2006, 116 Entscheidungen des Bundesverfassungsgerichts [BVerfGE] 24 (Ger.). See also Magen, Stefan, Naturalizations Obtained by Fraud: Can They be Revoked? The German Federal Constitutional Court's Judgement of 24 May 2006, 7 Germ. L.J. 681, 684 (2006).Google Scholar

8 See 116 BVerfGE 24 (37, 44) (Ger.).Google Scholar

9 See id. at 45.Google Scholar

10 See id. at 45–49.Google Scholar

11 See id. at 49.Google Scholar

12 See Magen, supra note 7, at 689.Google Scholar

13 Oberverwaltungsgericht Berlin [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Berlin], 2 Nov. 1988, BVerwGE 53.82 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 30 Oct. 2002, 25 Informationsbrief Ausländerrecht (InfAuslR) 67 (68), 2003 (Ger.).Google Scholar

14 Oberverwaltungsgericht Münster [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Münster], 2 Sept. 1996, 10 NWVBl 71 (72), 1997 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Schleswig [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Schleswig], 19 Feb. 2001, BVerwGE 178/98 (Ger.); Oberverwaltungsgericht Hamburg [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Hamburg], 28 Aug. 2001, 20 Neue Zeitschrift für Verwaltungsrecht (NVwZ) 885 (886), 2002 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgerichtshof Kassel [VGH] [Higher Administrative Court of Kassel], 3 Dec. 2001, BVerwGE 2451/01 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgerichtshof München [VGH] [Higher Administrative Court of München], 17 June 2002, BVerwGE 01.1385 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgerichtshof Mannheim [VGH] [Higher Administrative Court of Mannheim], 29 Nov. 2002, BVerwGE 205/03 (Ger).Google Scholar

15 See 118 BVerwGE 216 (218) (Ger.); 119 BVerwGE 17 (19) (Ger.).Google Scholar

16 See 118 BVerwGE 216 (219) (Ger.).Google Scholar

17 Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 14 Sept. 2004, BVerwGE 146.04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 14 Dec. 2004, BVerwGE 135.04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 11 Mar. 2005, BVerwGE 161.04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 18 Mar. 2005, BVerwGE 179.04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 18 Mar. 2005, BVerwGE 133/04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 16 Aug. 2005, BVerwGE 161/04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 20 Dec. 2005, BVerwGE 114.05 (Ger.).Google Scholar

18 Paul Stelkens et al., Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetz: Kommentar § 48, ¶ 49 (2008).Google Scholar

19 Verwaltungsgericht Schleswig [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Schleswig], 19 Feb. 2001, BVerwGE 178/98 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Augsburg [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Augsburg], 13 May 2003, BVerwGE 03.212, (Ger.); Verwaltungsgerichtshof München [VGH] [Higher Administrative Court of München], 4 May 2005, BVerwGE 03.1679, (Ger.).Google Scholar

20 Verwaltungsgerichtshof Mannheim [VGH] [Higher Administrative Court of Mannheim], 29 Nov. 2002, 25 InfAuslR 205 (207), 2003 (Ger.); 119 BVerwGE 17 (20) (Ger.).Google Scholar

21 Oberverwaltungsgericht Münster [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Münster], 2 Sept. 1996, 10 NWVBl 71 (73), 1997 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Schleswig [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Schleswig], 19 Feb. 2001, BVerwGE 178/98 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Oldenburg [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Oldenburg], 29 Oct. 2003, BVerwGE 746/03 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Braunschweig [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Braunschweig], 4 Nov. 2003, BVerwGE 308/03 (Ger.); Oberverwaltungsgericht Lüneburg [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Lüneburg], 14 Oct. 2004, 58 Neue Juristische Wochenschrift [NJW] 524, 2005 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin, [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 11 Mar. 2005, BVerwGE 161.04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgerichtshof München [VGH] [Higher Administrative Court of München], 4 May 2005, BVerwGE 03.1371 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 16 Aug. 2005, BVerwGE 161.04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Saarland [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Saarland], 28 Oct. 2005, BVerwGE 235/04 (Ger.); Oberverwaltungsgericht Lüneburg [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Lüneburg], 13 July 2007, 61 Das Standesamt [StAZ] 110 (112), 2008 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Darmstadt [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Darmstadt], 20 Aug. 2008, BVerwGE 840/07.Google Scholar

22 Oberverwaltungsgericht Münster [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Münster], 2 Sept. 1996, 10 NWVBl 71 (73), 1997 (Ger.).Google Scholar

23 Verwaltungsgericht Berlin, [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 11 Mar. 2005, BVerwGE 161.04 (Ger.)Google Scholar

24 See, e.g., Verwaltungsgericht Gießen [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Gießen], 7 June 2004, BVerwGE 2666/03 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Ansbach [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Ansbach], 28 Nov. 2008, BVerwGE 08.00866 (Ger.).Google Scholar

25 Verwaltungsgericht Arnsberg [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Arnsberg], 7 Sept. 2005, BVerwGE 4025/04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgerichtshof München [VGH] [Higher Administrative Court of München], 17 June 2002, BVerwGE 01.1385 (Ger.); 118 BVerwGE 216 (222) (Ger.); Verwaltungsgerichtshof München [VGH] [Higher Administrative Court of München], 25 Oct. 2005, BVerwGE 03.2462 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgerichtshof Mannheim [VGH] [Higher Administrative Court of Mannheim], 10 Oct. 2007, 30 InfAuslR 44 (45), 2008 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Freiburg [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Freiburg], 5 Sept. 2007, BVerwGE 1851/06 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Sigmaringen [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Sigmaringen], 18 Nov. 2008, BVerwGE 54/08 (Ger.). This was the reason for revocation in the Rottmann case. See Part C.III.Google Scholar

26 Verwaltungsgericht Gießen [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Gießen], 3 May 2004, BVerwGE 2691/03 (Ger.); cf. Verwaltungsgericht Oldenburg [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Oldenburg], 17 Oct. 2007, BVerwGE 3636/06 (Ger.).Google Scholar

27 Verwaltungsgericht Gießen [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Gießen], 5 Apr. 2004, BVerwGE 4911/03 (Ger.).Google Scholar

28 Verwaltungsgericht Freiburg [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Freiburg], 5 Dec. 2007, BVerwGE 1851/06 (Ger.).Google Scholar

29 Ausführungsgesetz zu dem Übereinkommen vom 30.08.1961 zur Verminderung der Staatenlosigkeit [Act of the Implementation of the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness of 30 Aug. 1961], 29 June 1977, BGBl I at 1101, art. 2.Google Scholar

30 Oberverwaltungsgericht Münster [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Münster], 12 Nov. 2002, BVerwGE 2187/02 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 14 Dec. 2004, BVerwGE 135.04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 18 Mar. 2005, BVerwGE 179.04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 18 Mar. 2005, BVerwGE 133.04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Arnsberg [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Arnsberg], 12 May 2005, BVerwGE 335/05 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 20 Dec. 2005, BVerwGE 114.05 (Ger.).Google Scholar

31 See Stelkens et al., supra note 18, § 48, ¶ 229.Google Scholar

32 See id. ¶ 204.Google Scholar

33 See Verwaltungsgerichtshof Mannheim [VGH] [Higher Administrative Court of Mannheim], 29 Nov. 2002, 25 InfAuslR 205 (210), 2003 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Gießen [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Gießen], 5 Apr. 2004, BVerwGE 4911/03 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Gießen [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Gießen], 7 June 2004, BVerwGE 2666/03 (Ger.);Google Scholar

34 Abrogated by Gesetz über die weitere Bereinigung von Bundesrecht [Further Simplification of Federal Law], 8 Dec. 2010, BGBl. I at 1864, art. 2.Google Scholar

35 Oberverwaltungsgericht Münster [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Münster], 2 Sept. 1996, 10 NWVBl 71 (75), 1997 (Ger.); Oberverwaltungsgericht Hamburg [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Hamburg], 28 Aug. 2001, 20 NVwZ 885 (887), 2002 (Ger.) (even though this question was left unanswered in both cases).Google Scholar

36 Verwaltungsgericht Schleswig [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Schleswig], 19 Feb. 2001, BVerwGE 178/98 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 11 Mar. 2005, BVerwGE 161.04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 16 Aug. 2005, BVerwGE 161.04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 20 Dec. 2005, BVerwGE 114. 04 (Ger.).Google Scholar

37 Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 11 Mar. 2005, BVerwGE 161.04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 16 Aug. 2005, BVerwGE 161.04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 20 Dec. 2005, BVerwGE 114.05 (Ger.).Google Scholar

38 Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 14 Sept. 2004, BVerwGE 146.04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 14 Dec. 2004, BVerwGE 135.04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 18 Mar. 2005, BVerwGE 179.04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 18 Mar. 2005, BVerwGE 133.04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Arnsberg [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Arnsberg], 7 Sept. 2005, BVerwGE 4045/04 (Ger.).Google Scholar

39 Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 14 Sept. 2004, BVerwGE 146.04 (Ger.).Google Scholar

40 Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 14 Dec. 2004, BVerwGE 135.04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 18 Mar. 2005, BVerwGE 133.04 (Ger.).Google Scholar

41 Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 18 Mar. 2005, BVerwGE 179.04 (Ger.).Google Scholar

42 Verwaltungsgerichtshof München [VGH] [Higher Administrative Court of München], 4 May 2005, BVerwGE 03.1371 (Ger.); see also Magen, supra note 7, at 700.Google Scholar

43 Verwaltungsgerichtshof München [VGH] [Higher Administrative Court of München], 4 May 2005, BVerwGE 03.1371 (Ger.).Google Scholar

44 Verwaltungsgericht Hamburg [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Hamburg] 15 Feb. 2000, BVerwGE 98/99 (Ger.), cited in Verwaltungsgericht Schleswig [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Schleswig] 19 Feb. 2001, BVerwGE 178/98 (Ger.).Google Scholar

45 Oberverwaltungsgericht Münster [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Münster], 12 Nov. 2002, BVerwGE 2187/02 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgerichtshof Mannheim [VGH] [Higher Administrative Court of Mannheim], 29 Nov. 2002, 25 InfAuslR 205 (210), 2003 (Ger.). See 119 BVerwGE 17 (24) (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 14 Dec. 2004, BVerwGE 135.04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 18 Mar. 2005, BVerwGE 133.04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Arnsberg [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Arnsberg], 12 May 2005, BVerwGE 355/05 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 20 Dec. 2005, BVerwGE 114.05 (Ger.); Oberverwaltungsgericht Lüneburg [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Lüneburg], 27 Sept. 2007, BVerwGE 108/07 (Ger.).Google Scholar

46 Oberverwaltungsgericht Münster [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Münster], 12 Nov. 2002, BVerwGE 2187/02 (Ger.).Google Scholar

47 See 119 BVerwGE 17 (24) (Ger.).Google Scholar

48 See 116 BVerfGE 24 (59, 60) (Ger.).Google Scholar

49 See id. at 52. Four out of eight judges supported this view which is enough to dismiss the case. Cf. Bundesverfassungsgerichtsgesetz [BVerfGG] [Federal Constitutional Court Act], § 15.4 sent. 3 (Ger.). There was a dissenting opinion on this issue: Four judges held that Parliament had to decide on the conditions for revocations of naturalizations in a special statutory basis. See 116 BVerfGE 24 (60–69).Google Scholar

50 See 116 BVerfGE 24 (54–55) (Ger.).Google Scholar

51 Verwaltungsgerichtshof Kassel [VGH] [Higher Administrative Court of Kassel], 18 Jan. 2007, 29 InfAuslR 207 (208), 2007 (Ger.); cf. Verwaltungsgerichtshof München [VGH] [Higher Administrative Court of München], 1 Mar. 2007, BVerwGE 05.1783 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht München [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of München], 6 Dec. 2007, BVerwGE 06.4896 (Ger.); Bundesverwaltungsgericht [BVerwG] [Federal Administrative Court], 3 June 2003, BVerwGE 132/07 (Ger.).Google Scholar

52 Verwaltungsgerichtshof Mannheim [VGH] [Higher Administrative Court of Mannheim], 17 Sept. 2007, 30 InfAuslR 173 (175), 2008 (Ger.).Google Scholar

53 Oberverwaltungsgericht Berlin-Brandenburg [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg], 19 Oct. 2006, BVerwGE 1/05 (Ger.); Oberverwaltungsgericht Berlin-Brandenburg [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg], 19 Oct. 2006, BVerwGE 15/03 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Stuttgart [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Stuttgart], 5 Mar. 2007, BVerwGE 4105/04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgerichtshof Mannheim [VGH] [Higher Administrative Court of Mannheim], 9 Aug. 2007, 30 InfAuslR 41 (43), 2008 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Freiburg [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Freiburg], 14 Nov. 2007, BVerwGE 1854/05 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Freiburg [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Freiburg], 5 Dec. 2007, BVerwGE 1851/06 (Ger.); Bundesverwaltungsgericht [BVerwG] [Federal Administrative Court], 14 Feb. 2008, 130 BVerwGE 209 (212) (Ger.); Bundesverwaltungsgericht [BVerwG] [Federal Administrative Court], 30 June 2008, 28 Zeitschrift für Ausländerrecht und Ausländerpolitik [ZAR] 311 (312), 2008 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Darmstadt [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Darmstadt], 20 Aug. 2008, BVerwGE 840/07 (Ger.).Google Scholar

54 Verwaltungsgericht Stuttgart [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Stuttgart], 5 Mar. 2007, BVerwGE 4105/04 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgerichtshof Mannheim [VGH] [Higher Administrative Court of Mannheim], 17 Sept. 2007, 30 InfAuslR 173 (177), 2008 (Ger.); Bundesverwaltungsgericht [BVerwG] [Federal Administrative Court], 30 June 2008, 28 ZAR 311 (312), 2008 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Darmstadt [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Darmstadt], 20 Aug. 2008, BVerwGE 840/07, ¶ 20 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Sigmaringen [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Sigmaringen], 18 Nov. 2008, BVerwGE 54, 2008 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Ansbach [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Ansbach], 28 Nov. 2008, BVerwGE 08.00866, ¶ 21 (Ger.).Google Scholar

55 Verwaltungsgericht Darmstadt [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Darmstadt], 20 Aug. 2008, BVerwGE 840/07 (¶ 20) (Ger.).Google Scholar

56 Verwaltungsgericht Freiburg [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Freiburg], 5 Dec. 2007, BVerwGE 1851/06 (Ger.).Google Scholar

57 Verwaltungsgerichtshof Mannheim [VGH] [Higher Administrative Court of Mannheim], 17 Sept. 2007, 30 InfAuslR 173, 2008 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Freiburg [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Freiburg], 14 Nov. 2007, BVerwGE 1854/05 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Sigmaringen [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Sigmaringen], 18 Nov. 2008, BVerwGE 54/08 (Ger.).Google Scholar

58 8.5 years. See Oberverwaltungsgericht Berlin-Brandenburg [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg], 19 Oct. 2006, OVG 15/03 (Ger.); Bundesverwaltungsgericht [BVerwG] [Federal Administrative Court], 14 Feb. 2008, BVerwGE 130 (209, 213) (Ger.). Eight years and eleven months. See Oberverwaltungsgericht Saarlouis [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Saarlouis], 3 July 2008, BVerwGE 396/07. Nine years and nine months. See Bundesverwaltungsgericht [BVerwG] [Federal Administrative Court], 14 Feb. 2008, BVerwGE 5/07 (Ger.). More than ten years. See Verwaltungsgerichtshof Mannheim [VGH] [Higher Administrative Court of Mannheim], 9 Aug. 2007, 30 InfAuslR 41, 2008 (Ger.). About eleven years. See Verwaltungsgericht Stuttgart [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Stuttgart], 5 Mar. 2007, BVerwGE 4105/04 (Ger.); Bundesverwaltungsgericht [BVerwG] [Federal Administrative Court], 14 Feb. 2008, BVerwGE 14/07; Bundesverwaltungsgericht [BVerwG] [Federal Administrative Court], 14 Feb. 2008, BVerwGE 15/07. Ten to twelve years. Oberverwaltungsgericht Berlin-Brandenburg [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg], 19 Oct. 2006, OVG 1/05. But see Oberverwaltungsgericht Lüneburg [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Lüneburg], 13 July 2007, 61 StAZ 110, 2008 (Ger.) (impling that the term “promptly” may be ignored and that a 9.5-year period be permissible); Engst, Kathrin, Die Rücknahme rechtswidriger Verwaltungsakte am Beispiel der Einbürgerung, 47 Juristische Schulung (JuS) 225 (229), 2007.Google Scholar

59 Bundesverwaltungsgericht [BVerwG] [Federal Administrative Court], 14 Feb. 2008, 130 BVerwGE 209 (213) (Ger.); Bundesverwaltungsgericht [BVerwG] [Federal Administrative Court], 30 June 2008, 28 ZAR 311 (312), 2008 (Ger.).Google Scholar

60 See 116 BVerfGE 24 (59–60) (Ger.).Google Scholar

61 Bundestag Drucksachen [BT] 16/10528, at 8 (Ger).Google Scholar

63 Cf. Jörn Axel Kämmerer, Die Rücknahme erschlichener Einbürgerungen—Tor zur Staatenlosigkeit?, 25 NVwZ 1015, 1018 (2006); Kokott, Juliane, Art. 16, in Grundgesetz Kommentar ¶ 32 (Michael Sachs ed., 5th ed. 2009); Nettersheim, Waltraud, Rücknahme und Widerruf von Einbürgerungen, 119 Deutsches Verwaltungsblatt (DVBl) 1144, 1145 (2004).Google Scholar

64 Bundestag Drucksachen [BT] 16/10528, at 8 (Ger.).Google Scholar

65 Cf. supra Part B.Google Scholar

66 See 116 BVerfGE 24 (66–67) (dissenting opinion) (Ger.). These concerns were already expressed by Oberverwaltungsgericht Berlin [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Berlin], 20 Feb. 2003, 25 InfAuslR 211 (214), 2003 (Ger.).Google Scholar

67 Cf. supra Part (C)(II)(1)(1.1)(b).Google Scholar

68 Cf. Grundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland [Grundgesetz] [GG] [Basic Law], 23 May 1949 BGBI. I (Ger.) (for example the freedom of assembly in Art. 8 and the freedom to choose an occupation in Art. 12.1).Google Scholar

69 Bundeswahlgesetz [BWahlG] [Federal Voting Act], BGBl. I at § 12.1 (Ger.).Google Scholar

70 Id. § 15.1 no. 1.Google Scholar

71 Cf. GG art. 33.2; Bundesbeamtengesetz [BBG] [Federal Civil Servants Act], § 7.1 no. 1 (Ger.) (apart from Germans also citizens of other member states of the European Union, citizens of other contracting states of the Agreement on the European Economic Area and citizens of third countries in case of a special contract between the states).Google Scholar

72 StAG § 4.1 sent. 1. See Part D.I.1.Google Scholar

73 Einführungsgesetz zum Bürgerlichen Gesetzbuch [EGBGB] [Introductory Act to the Civil Code], art. 25.1 (Ger.).Google Scholar

74 European Court of Justice [ECJ], 2 Mar. 2010, Case C-135/08. See Tewocht, Hannah, Comment on Judgment of 2 Mar. 2010 of European Court of Justice, 30 ZAR 145 (2010).Google Scholar

75 Bundesverwaltungsgericht [BVerwG] [Federal Administrative Court], 18 Feb. 2008, 27 NVwZ 686 (687), 2008 (Ger.).Google Scholar

76 See ECJ, supra note 74, ¶ 55.Google Scholar

77 See id. ¶ 58.Google Scholar

78 Judgment 5 C 12.10 of 11 Nov. 2010, 30 NVwZ 760 (762), 2011 (Ger.).Google Scholar

79 Cf. ECJ, supra note 74, ¶ 39.Google Scholar

80 Tewocht, supra note 74, at 145.Google Scholar

81 Gesetz zur Reform des Staatsangehörigkeitsrechts [Law to Reform Nationality Law], 15 July 1995, BGBl I at 1618 (Ger.). See Weber, Albrecht, Das neue Staatsangehörigkeitsrecht, 115 DVBl 369 (2000).Google Scholar

82 In the second case the child may also hold the citizenship of his parents. Then he must decide if he wants to keep the German or the foreign citizenship as soon as he turns eighteen. Cf. StAG § 29.Google Scholar

83 See Verwaltungsgericht Düsseldorf [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Düsseldorf], 10 Sept. 1985, 39 NJW 676 (677), 1986 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht Hamburg [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Hamburg], 25 Jan. 2001, BVerwGE 4877/2000 (Ger.); Oberverwaltungsgericht Hamburg [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Hamburg], 28 June 2001, BVerwGE 15/01 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgerichtshof Mannheim [VGH] [Higher Administrative Court of Mannheim], 17 July 2001, BVerwGE 221/01 (Ger.); Oberverwaltungsgericht Hamburg [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Hamburg], 20 Sept. 2002, BVerwGE 238/02 (Ger.); Oberverwaltungsgericht Hamburg [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Hamburg], 10 Feb. 2004, BVerwGE 238/03 (Ger.); Oberverwaltungsgericht Magdeburg [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Magdeburg], 1 Oct. 2004, 28 InfAuslR 56 (57), 2006 (Ger.).Google Scholar

84 Bundesverfassungsgericht [BVerfG] [Federal Constitutional Court], 24 Oct. 2006, 60 NJW 425, 2007 (Ger.).Google Scholar

86 Verwaltungsgericht Hamburg [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Hamburg], 25 Sept. 2009, BVerwGE 1457/08, ¶ 28 (Ger.).Google Scholar

87 Verwaltungsgericht Potsdam [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Potsdam], 31 July 2008, BVerwGE 172/08 (Ger.); Verwaltungsgericht München [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of München], 16 Apr. 2009, BVerwGE 08.5928 (Ger.).Google Scholar

88 Oberverwaltungsgericht Lüneburg [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Lüneburg], 13 July 2007, 61 StAZ 110 (113), 2008 (Ger.).Google Scholar

89 Oberverwaltungsgericht Lüneburg [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Lüneburg], 27 Sept. 2007, BVerwGE 108/07 (Ger.).Google Scholar

90 Verwaltungsgericht Hamburg [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Hamburg], 25 Sept. 2009, BVerwGE 1457/08 (Ger.); see also Gerard-René de Groot & Schneider, Hildegard, Erschlichene Einbürgerungen, Identitätsbetrug und Entzug der Staatsangehörigkeit in Deutschland und den Niederlanden, in Rechtsstaatliche Ordnung Europas, Gedächtnisschrift für Albert Bleckmann 79, 102 (Eckart Klein, Stefan Ulrich Pieper & Georg Ress eds., 2007).Google Scholar

91 Verwaltungsgericht Berlin [VG] [Administrative Trial Court of Berlin], 27 Feb. 2003, BVerwGE 237.02, ¶ 42, 2002 (Ger.).Google Scholar

92 Bundesverwaltungsgericht [BVerwG] [Federal Administrative Court], 5 Sept. 2006, BVerwGE 470 (471) (Ger.).Google Scholar

93 Oberverwaltungsgericht Münster [OVG] [Higher Administrative Court of Münster], 28 May 2008, BVerwGE 425/08 (Ger.).Google Scholar

94 Becker, Yvonne, Rückwirkender Wegfall der deutschen Staatsangehörigkeit—Entziehung oder Verlust? 25 NVwZ 304, 306 (2006).Google Scholar

95 Section 17.2 regulates the case of the revoked naturalization of one parent pursuant to StAG § 35. Section 17.3 regulates the cases of contested paternity and revoked residence titles.Google Scholar

96 Bundestag Drucksachen [BT] 16/10528, at 7 (Ger.).Google Scholar

97 Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch [BGB] [Civil Code], 18 Aug. 1896, Reichsgesetzblatt [RGBl] 195, as amended, § 1600b.1 sentence 1 (Ger.).Google Scholar

98 Id. § 1600b.1 sentence 2 (Ger.).Google Scholar