Eleanor Corney
Poland has announced that it would like reparations from Germany after the events of World War II. Polish foreign minister Zbigniew Rau has signed an official note requesting roughly €1.3 trillion in reparations.
What did the foreign minister say?
He has stated: “Parties must take immediate steps towards a permanent, complete and definitive legal and material settlement.” Furthermore, he has called upon a “final” settlement between Warsaw and Berlin following the German occupation of Poland which lasted between 1939 and 1945.
“Rau states that Berlin could change it’s position on said reparations”
After a meeting in Warsaw with Germany’s foreign minister Annalena Baerbock, Rau states that Berlin could change its position on said reparations.
Poland’s right-wing government has argued that the country has not received full compensation after German occupation. Additionally, Rau has stated that both sides should take action “without delay.”
What was demanded?
“Regarding the process of receiving the reparations, he recognised that it would be “long and difficult.””
The Polish government estimated that the total financial cost of World War II under Nazi occupation was €1.3 trillion. Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of the ruling party Prawo i Sprawiedliwość (Law and Justice) has acknowledged that this is a significant sum. Regarding the process of receiving the reparations, he recognised that it would be “long and difficult.”
President Andrzej Duda stated that the war was “one of the most terrible tragedies in our history.” Additionally, Polish Prime Minister Matuesz Morawiecki tweeted that the report, published by the Polish government, was “compensation for crippling Poland’s future.”
Additionally, Poland has also demanded that the truth finally be told. Rau stated: “Such a settlement would allow us to base Polish-German relations on justice and truth and close painful chapters of history.”
What now?
Berlin claims that reparations were paid in the 1950s and will not sanction a reopening of the issue.
Warsaw is planning a campaign to show the damage caused by Nazi Germany during World War II.
However, Warsaw is planning a campaign to show the damage caused by Nazi Germany during World War II. Kaczyński said: “We are preparing films on this subject, although of course it will take a while. We are preparing a great media operation on a global scale.”
Poland’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, stated: “This case is not just about the financial aspect. It concerns above all the dignity, dignity of our nation, our state and country.”
Featured image courtesy of Kamil Gliwiński on Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.
