What does German citizenship mean? |

 West Germany in May 1949 laid the groundwork for the unified Germany we know today. Following the Second World War, the Basic Law was established to ensure that the atrocities of the Nazi era would never be repeated. During the Holocaust, the Nazis deprived Jews and other minorities of their full citizenship rights, resulting in the tragic deaths of 6 million Jews. The legacy of this dark chapter continues to influence contemporary life in Germany. Memorials serve as poignant reminders of those who suffered.

 

Pippa Goldschmidt, the granddaughter of a German Jew, has a personal connection to this history. Her grandfather managed to escape Nazi persecution by fleeing to England, where Pippa was raised. Decades later, she has reclaimed her German citizenship as a descendant of a victim of Nazi persecution, exercising her right under the Basic Law. Currently residing in Berlin, citizenship holds both a practical and symbolic significance for her.

 

Pippa, a writer, is preparing to publish a book about her family's story. During a visit from her translator and publisher in Berlin, they examine her grandfather's German passport, a tangible link to his past. Stripped of his German citizenship by the Nazis, Pippa's journey to reclaim her heritage is a means of honoring his memory and connecting with her roots.

 

In her research and writing, Pippa acknowledges the role of Germany's culture of remembrance in bridging the gap between past and present. The collective effort of Germans to confront and learn from their history has aided her in understanding and reconciling with the past. As Pippa delves into her family history, she finds solace in the shared commitment to memory and reflection within German society.

 

German citizenship represents more than legal documentation; it embodies a sense of belonging, identity, and history. With a population of nearly 85 million, there exists a diverse tapestry of what it means to be German, reflecting the complexity and richness of the nation's past and present.

The main causes of hand numbness

 Neurological causes: cervical discopathy , cervical radiculopathy, hand nerve compression (radial nerve palsy, carpal tunnel syndrome , pressure on the ulnar nerve). Numbness of the hands associated with pressure on the nerves and their damage may result from injuries: fractures, joint dislocations, sprains or bruises, bad work habits, weight-bearing movements (so-called tennis elbow , golfer's elbow ), as well as cysts or cancerous tumors, other diseases , e.g. multiple sclerosis , peripheral neuropathies.

Note: a neurological cause of numbness in the hands may also be a stroke ! If the patient also experiences tingling or numbness in parts of the face or around the corner of the mouth, this may indicate an emergency and requires calling an ambulance.

Muscular causes – may involve excessive muscle tension or an inflammatory reaction in the tendon. Numbness in the hands may result from diseases in nearby muscles (e.g. myofascial pain syndrome).

Degenerations - numbness and tingling in the hands are the result of degenerations most often in the cervical spine. There is also weakening of muscle strength and difficulty in performing precise activities and grasping small objects.

Circulatory disorders - atherosclerosis and the resulting narrowing of blood vessels may be responsible for numbness in the hands in people over 50 years of age . Hand problems, including numbness, may also be a consequence of venous thrombosis, which is commonly associated only with the lower limbs and may also affect the hands.

Circulation problems that may cause numbness in the hands also include lymphatic stasis, e.g. after enlargement or removal of lymph nodes in the armpit.

Rheumatic diseases of the joints and muscles - most of them can cause discomfort in the hand, including numbness, tingling and pain.

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) - this is a set of neurological and vascular symptoms affecting the hands, caused by pressure on the brachial plexus (the plexus of spinal nerves passing through the arm), subclavian artery, subclavian vein and axillary vein. One of the symptoms of this disease is numbness in the hands.

Endocrine diseases , e.g. diabetes.

Psychogenic causes - the feeling of numbness, tingling in the hands, or pinching of the skin may not have an organic cause in the form of a disease, but result from mental disorders: depression , neurosis or hypochondria .