Nearly 100 descendants of Holocaust survivors gathered in Belsize Square synagogue on Sunday to learn how to apply for European citizenship.

The Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) – the largest community of descendents – organised the event.

Debra Barnes, AJR’s Next Generations Manager, said: “The AJR’s increased engagement with the next generations of Holocaust descendants has helped us identify their key interests, and acquiring European citizenship is high up on the list.”

Representatives from German, Austrian, and Czech embassies explain the process of naturalisation to Shoah survivors and their descendants, August 18, 2024 (Credit: AJR)

Attendees on Sunday were able to hear from experts on German, Austrian, and Czech citizenship. The event also focused on the emotional facors involved in naturalisation – something which Annie Lew, a third generation descendent anbd German citizen, emphasised.

“When I decided to apply for German citizenship - it wasn‘t about the benefits of travelling abroad, it felt like something profound in my family history,” she said. “It was an opportunity to move on from what was taken away from my grandmother and incredibly symbolic in its retribution,” Lew explained. “I was very taken aback by the emotion I felt and just how healing the process was.”

The Citizenship Event of AJR in London Belsize Sq Synagogue on 18 8 2024. Photos taken by Adam Soller Photography©

Victims of persecution by the Nazi regime who were forcibly deprived of their German nationality, along with their descendents, have the right to be naturalised.

Miguel Berger, German Ambassador to the UK, told the JC: “We know that this cannot undo the pain and suffering of the past, nor is it meant to. However, we hope that it goes some way towards acknowledging and attempting to right a blatant wrong.”

Some 835 British Jews were granted German citizenship in 2023, and 1515 were naturalised the year before. Since Brexit, the number of British descendents of Holocaust survivors seeking European citizenship has greatly increased, but Berger emphasised that the decision was a “deeply personal” one. “I see it first and foremost as a sign of trust in today’s Germany,” he said. “For that trust I am sincerely and profoundly grateful”.

Speakers on Sunday’s event included representatives from the German, Austrian, and Czech embassies, as well as descendents who had been through naturalisation processes.

Representatives from German, Austrian, and Czech embassies explain the process of naturalisation to Shoah survivors and their descendants, August 18, 2024 (Credit: AJR)

Barnes added: “The AJR has excellent relationships with the relevant embassies in the UK and we’re delighted to be able to assist our members to reconnect with a part of their identity that the Nazis took away from their parents and grandparents. In so doing, we are honoured to enable the next generations to continue their family legacy.”