Surge in British Jews applying for German citizenship since Brexit

He said: "For some this is mainly about practical considerations. For others this also about reclaiming something that belonged to them or their parents. It's part of their identity."

But he suggested some made their applications as a "protest against Brexit."

According to Germany's 1949 constitution, citizenship is granted to anyone who lost their nationality for "political, racial or religious reasons."

After coming to power in 1933, the Nazis stripped thousands of German Jews of citizenship.

In 1941, the regime withdrew German citizenship from all Jews who had left the country at that time.

Mr Newman said there was a "deep irony" descendants of Jewish refugees were now applying for passports in a country where their families were persecuted and murdered.

This weekend more than 650,000 people - including representatives from the Jewish Labour Movement - took part in the march in London demanding a second referendum on exiting Europe.