Dear JewishGeners,

I have applied for German citizenship under “Application A — for naturalization of persons living abroad pursuant to Article 116 (2), first sentence, of the Basic Law (GG).” As a Jew, my father had his citizenship revoked before/during World War II, and my grandparents were killed in the Shoah.

To my surprise, my application can’t go through because my New York City birth certificate does not list my parents’ names. Is there another official record that does include that information? I have used my official NY birth certificate my entire lifetime.

With thanks,
Ronnie Hess
Madison, WI
Researching HESS, HIRSCHLAFF, ROSNER, KESSLER