Storm in Germany: Chinese criminals posed as descendants of Holocaust survivors
A Der Spiegel investigation has uncovered a scheme in which dozens of Chinese nationals are suspected of forging Jewish roots to obtain German citizenship. At least 16 individuals have already received German passports by exploiting the life stories of actual Holocaust victims.
An investigation by the German magazine Der Spiegel has revealed a major fraud scheme in which dozens of individuals, mostly Chinese citizens, are suspected of obtaining German citizenship and passports by forging documents and fabricating family histories linking them to Jews persecuted by the Nazi regime.
According to the investigation, between 2020 and 2025, the suspects submitted applications to the German Federal Office of Administration (BVA) in Cologne. They claimed to be descendants of Jews whose citizenship was revoked or who were forced to flee Germany. To substantiate these claims, the suspects invented biographies and submitted forged documents.
High-profile cases and criminal ties
One of the most prominent cases involves a Chinese criminal known as "Liu H.," who was wanted in China for kidnapping and murder. He allegedly used multiple identities until he successfully obtained German citizenship and a passport under the name "Derek Wong." This allowed him to travel freely despite international arrest warrants. During interrogation, it emerged that he paid intermediaries approximately $600,000 to secure the documents.
He claimed to be the grandson of Karl Siegfried and Gertrude Susskind, real individuals who fled the Nazi regime to Israel. However, German authorities found no evidence of any family connection between them and "Derek Wong."
A similar method was used by "Tian Si," who received citizenship in 2024. He managed a micro-credit company in China and is suspected of massive fraud before fleeing justice. Another suspect, "Ou Jia Y.," accused of running a Ponzi scheme, also posed as a descendant of Holocaust survivors, even claiming to be the brother of "Derek Wong."
Exploiting real family histories
Fraudsters utilized information about real Jewish families—such as the Warshawskis, Susskinds, Druckers, and Ratzkowskis—available in public records. Tamir Rosenblum, the grandson of Arthur and Ruth Ratzkowski, described the exploitation of his family’s history of Nazi persecution as "disgusting."
Investigators uncovered correspondence in which suspects instructed each other on how to bypass border control scrutiny. They advised citing Article 116 of the German Basic Law, which provides a path for citizenship restoration for descendants of Nazi victims and allows for privacy regarding personal details.
Scope of the investigation
Since 2021, approximately 52,000 people have received German citizenship under this provision. In 2025, a record 14,148 applications were filed. The Düsseldorf Public Prosecutor's Office and the Federal Criminal Police (BKA) currently suspect 32 individuals of fraud, half of whom have already received passports.
The investigation also involves Israeli citizens, including a doctor and a psychiatrist who worked in Germany and Israel. German authorities have submitted requests for legal assistance to Israel and Canada. If the allegations are proven, the fraudulently obtained citizenship may be revoked, though the process is complicated by the fact that most suspects reside outside of Germany.
