Genitive preposition 'mangels' (for lack of)

mangels is a formal, chiefly legal genitive preposition meaning for lack of / due to the absence of. It states the missing thing that causes some consequence.

It governs the genitive:

• mangels ausreichender Beweise - for lack of sufficient evidence
• mangels Masse - for lack of assets (a set legal phrase)

Examples:

• Mangels ausreichender Beweise wurde er freigesprochen. - For lack of sufficient evidence he was acquitted.
• Das Verfahren wurde mangels hinreichenden Tatverdachts eingestellt. - The proceedings were discontinued for lack of sufficient suspicion.

Common mistakes: With a bare plural noun lacking an article, mangels often switches to the dative in practice: mangels Beweisen alongside mangels Beweise(s). With an article or adjective, keep the genitive (mangels der nötigen Mittel). The register is legal/formal; in everyday German use aus Mangel an + dative or simply weil … fehlt.

'mangels' (for lack of) takes the genitive.

Means 'for lack of / due to the absence of'; takes the genitive.

'mangels' (wegen Fehlens) steht mit dem Genitiv.