In the meantime, we had another project going on - my naturalisation into the promised land, the Federal Republic of Germany. As globetrotters, it was clear to us that we would always have to deal with visa regulations and that the same citizenship would make travelling much easier for both of us. Whenever Alexandra checked the visa regulations for any country, it was clear what applied to German citizens. What applied to Austrians, however, was not even mentioned because of the insignificance of the small number of Alpine Republicans. It was always just: different rules. But which ones?
Besides this purely practical aspect, a very emotional point also plays a major role. With his choice of profession, Ben has decided to serve this country and the people living there even in these very dangerous times of a concrete warlike threat. He is deeply convinced that our country and our society deserve to be defended if necessary. Even at the risk of his health and, in case of doubt, even his life. Ben's decision cost us a lot of sleep out of concern for his physical and mental health. Nevertheless, we are very happy to know that Germany's security, should the worst happen, is also in the hands of intelligent and calm people like Ben. We find that very reassuring.
At some point I realised that despite decades of paying highly appreciable taxes in Germany, I would never really be part of what my son is willing to fight for because of my Austrian citizenship. I had to change that and had started to deal with this very meaningful issue. I was always very happy to be an Austrian, the son of a Viennese, with no obligation to do military service and with access to all subjects of study with numerus clausus. (Not that that did me any good.) I travelled the world as an Austrian and felt comfortable with it.
I would have liked to keep my Austrian citizenship, but Austria just rejected my application for dual citizenship and punished me for my request with an administrative fee of almost 200 euros. Then I was through with that, too, and cheerfully turned to the naturalisation office of the city of Erlangen. It turned out to be a fun experience. I expected great enthusiasm and immediate issuance of a German passport. But far from it.
First, I was asked to fill out countless forms and to disclose my financial situation in detail. A language and naturalisation test would be waived because of my Bavarian Abitur and my decades of continuous residence in Germany. That's great. What do my financial circumstances have to do with it? Well, there is the possibility that I could become a welfare case. Even if that were the case, I replied, it would be more than fair, considering the tax payments I had made over the past decades. The staff there saw it quite differently.
In the end, I inevitably got at least half-naked, only to learn that the process would now take nine months. When I asked for express service and a bit of special treatment - even for an extra charge - I received a weary, pinched smile. Nothing could be done. Then, in May 2022, the time had come. I was summoned to collect my new citizenship certificate. In joyful anticipation and equipped with a Germany face mask, I set out to walk down the red carpet to the sound of trombones and, at the end, to receive my citizenship certificate with dignity, along with my passport and identity card, with a greeting from the Federal President. In my dreams...
It was much less dignified and stately. I sat in a visitor's chair in a small office behind Plexiglas and received the certificate and greeting from some representative of the Free State of Bavaria through the small slit. Not even Markus Söder himself had signed it. Well, who am I? When I asked for my passport and identity card, I was directed to the Citizens' Registration Office on the ground floor, where I had to take a number and join the queue to apply for them. Great. I had imagined it differently. But a few days later I finally had both documents in my hands. Since then, I have actually been travelling the world more relaxed together with my wife and the same nationality. And I feel good about being now also most officially part of what our son Ben has committed himself to.