die  Generalstaatsanwaltschaft

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɡeneʁaːlʃtaːtsˌanvalʃaft/

🏛️ What Exactly is a 'Generalstaatsanwaltschaft'?

The Generalstaatsanwaltschaft (often abbreviated as GStA) is a public prosecution authority in Germany, typically assigned to an Oberlandesgericht (Higher Regional Court). It ranks hierarchically above the regular public prosecutor's offices (Staatsanwaltschaften) within the district of the respective Oberlandesgericht.

Its main responsibilities include:

• Supervision (both professional and administrative) of the public prosecutor's offices in its district.
• Handling appeals, particularly revisions (Revisionen) against decisions of the Landgerichte (Regional Courts) in criminal cases.
• Prosecuting certain serious crimes, e.g., related to state security (Staatsschutz), unless jurisdiction lies with the Federal Prosecutor General (Generalbundesanwalt).
• Representing the prosecution before the Oberlandesgericht.

It's an important institution within the German justice system, ensuring the uniform application of criminal prosecution within its district. The head of this authority is the Generalstaatsanwalt (male) or Generalstaatsanwältin (female).

Because the word ends in "-schaft", it's feminine: die Generalstaatsanwaltschaft. ♀️

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Die Generalstaatsanwaltschaft

The noun "Generalstaatsanwaltschaft" is feminine. The article is die.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

Example Sentences 📝

1. Die Generalstaatsanwaltschaft hat die Ermittlungen übernommen.
   (The Public Prosecutor General's Office has taken over the investigation.)
2. Der Fall wurde an die zuständige Generalstaatsanwaltschaft abgegeben.
   (The case was handed over to the responsible Public Prosecutor General's Office.)
3. Die Entscheidungen der Generalstaatsanwaltschaft sind oft von großer Bedeutung.
   (The decisions of the Public Prosecutor General's Office are often of great importance.)
4. In Deutschland gibt es mehrere Generalstaatsanwaltschaften.
   (There are several Public Prosecutor General's Offices in Germany.)

💡 Usage in Context: Generalstaatsanwaltschaft

The term Generalstaatsanwaltschaft is primarily used in legal and administrative contexts.

• Name of Authority: It denotes the specific authority at the level of the Higher Regional Courts (Oberlandesgerichte). For example, one might refer to the "Generalstaatsanwaltschaft München" or the "Generalstaatsanwaltschaft Frankfurt am Main".
• Hierarchy: The term clarifies its superior position over the regular prosecutor's offices (Staatsanwaltschaften) located at the Regional Courts (Landgerichte).
• Jurisdiction: It is mentioned when discussing appeals (Revisionen), specific state security offenses, or administrative supervision.
• Distinction: It's important to distinguish it from the Bundesanwaltschaft (Federal Prosecutor General's Office, headed by the Generalbundesanwalt at the Federal Court of Justice), which is responsible for specific federal crimes (e.g., terrorism, espionage). The Generalstaatsanwaltschaften operate at the state (Land) level.

In everyday language, the term is less common unless reporting on specific court proceedings or the structure of the judiciary.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Remembering the Article: Think of the ending "-schaft". Words ending in "-schaft" in German are almost always feminine (like Freundschaft - friendship, Wissenschaft - science). So, it's die Generalstaatsanwaltschaft.

Remembering the Meaning: "General" sounds like a chief or head figure. You might know "Staatsanwaltschaft" as the public prosecutor's office. So, the "Generalstaatsanwaltschaft" is the 'chief' prosecutor's office for a larger district (the area of a Higher Regional Court).

🔄 Synonyms and Related Terms

⚠️ Be aware: "Staatsanwaltschaft" alone usually refers to the office at a Regional Court (Landgericht) and is subordinate to the Generalstaatsanwaltschaft.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Richter den Angeklagten: "Warum haben Sie die Parkuhr aufgebrochen?"
Sagt der Angeklagte: "Der Automat sagte doch: 'Bitte Kleingeld einwerfen'. Da dachte ich, ich helfe mal beim Auswerfen!"
Richter: "Interessante Auslegung. Die Generalstaatsanwaltschaft wird sich freuen, das in der Revision zu prüfen... vielleicht."

Translation:
The judge asks the defendant: "Why did you break open the parking meter?"
The defendant says: "Well, the machine said: 'Please insert coins'. So I thought I'd help it eject them!"
Judge: "Interesting interpretation. The Public Prosecutor General's Office will be pleased to review that on appeal... perhaps."

📜 A Little Poem

Wo Recht gesprochen, ernst und klar,
steht über Staatsanwälten sie da.
Die Generalstaatsanwaltschaft wacht,
hält über Recht und Ordnung Macht.
Sie prüft Revision, erhebt die Klage,
löst manche schwere, dunkle Frage.
Ein Amt mit Würde, streng und fest,
das Recht im Lande wirken lässt.

Translation:
Where justice is spoken, earnest and clear,
It stands above prosecutors here.
The Prosecutor General's Office keeps watch,
Over law and order, holding much.
It reviews appeals, brings the charge anew,
Solves many difficult questions, dark of hue.
An office dignified, strict and fast,
That lets justice prevail in the land at last.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin kein General im Feld,
und doch wird meine Macht bestellt.
Ich sitz nicht selbst im Bundestag,
doch schick Akten oft nach Karslruh', ach!
Ich steh' den Anwälten des Staates vor,
im Bezirk des Oberlandesgerichts-Tor.
Revisionen prüfe ich genau.
Wer bin ich, klug und schlau?

Translation:
I'm no general on the field,
And yet, my power is revealed.
I don't sit in the federal parliament's light,
But often send files to Karlsruhe's height!
I lead the state's attorneys true,
Within the Higher Regional Court's view.
Appeals on points of law, I check with care.
Who am I, clever beyond compare?

Solution: Die Generalstaatsanwaltschaft (The Public Prosecutor General's Office)

🧩 Other Interesting Details

Word Composition

The word is a compound noun, composed of:

• General-: Meaning 'chief' or 'leading' here (like in General Manager).
• Staatsanwaltschaft: The public prosecutor's office (itself composed of Staat (state) + Anwalt (lawyer/advocate) + -schaft (suffix indicating an institution or collective)).

Structure in Germany

Germany typically has at least one Generalstaatsanwaltschaft per federal state (Bundesland), assigned to the respective Higher Regional Court (Oberlandesgericht - OLG). Some states have multiple OLGs and thus multiple Generalstaatsanwaltschaften (e.g., North Rhine-Westphalia has GStA Düsseldorf, Hamm, Cologne). Bavaria has one GStA in Munich and one in Nuremberg. Berlin has only one (where the OLG is called Kammergericht).