Liechtenstein v. Guatemala (Nottebohm Case) Nottebohm was born in Germany in 1881. He moved to Guatemala for business reasons in 1905 and lived there until 1943 except for business trips and visits to his brother in Liechtenstein. One month after the start of World War II, while visiting Liechtenstein, Nottebohm applied to be naturalized as a citizen and asked Liechtenstein to waive the 3-year residency requirement. He paid taxes to Liechtenstein and filed the requisite forms, and in 1939 Liechtenstein waived the required time-period, swore him in as a citizen, and issued him a passport. In 1943 Guatemala entered World War II, siding with the United States. When Nottebohm returned to Guatemala he was arrested as a German enemy and turned over to the United States for internment. His property was seized by Guatemala. Nottebohm was released in 1946, but his property was not returned. Liechtenstein filed a "memorial," as the complaint is called, before the International Court of Justice, claiming that Guatemala had violated international law and was obligated to pay damages.