This is the story of an inconspicuous little document found in the heart of Germany's beloved state Rhineland-Palatinate. As we now know, it would go on to change the world. It was the local historian Roland Paul (65), who found the document, with which US President-elect Donald Trump's grandfather was deported from Germany.

The letter states that Friedrich Trump is prohibited from staying in Germany. BILD

The document is from February 27, 1905. The royal district authority of "Dürkheim" wrote to the mayor of "Kallstadt" the following letter: "The American citizen and pensioner Friedrich Trump, currently residing in Kallstadt, is to be instructed to leave the state of Bavaria by May 1 at the latest, or else has to expect deportation." There are two versions of this document, one handwritten and one typewritten.

The former director of the institute for Palatine history and folk-life studies, Roland Paul, explains the context of the document as follows: "Friedrich Trump emigrated from Germany to the US in 1885. But he did so without formally deregistering and before doing his military service. That's why the authorities denied him repatriation in 1905."

Originally Friedrich Trump (1869-1918) intended to return home to his Palatine roots as a wealthy man. In the US he had started out as a prospector and went on to run a restaurant and allegedly even a brothel. That's how he made all his money.

During a visit to Germany in 1901, he fell in love with a young Palatine girl called Elisabeth, married her, and took her to the US. But Trump's wife wanted to go back to Germany.

Friedrich Trump wrote an obsequious letter, practically begging the Prince Regent for a residence permit. BILD

Friedrich Trump tried everything to get the residence permit they so desperately needed. On June 6, 1905, he wrote an obsequious letter to Luitpold, the prince regent of Bavaria, whom he called "much beloved, noble, wise and righteous sovereign" and a "lofty ruler."

But the prince regent did not indulge and rejected the "most subservient request."

On July 1, of 1905, the Trump family finally left Germany for good. In Hamburg they boarded the "Pennsylvania," which took them to New York. At the time, Elisabeth Trump was pregnant. Three months later, the president-elect's father was born in Queens.

(Translated from German by John Stanley Hunter)