Germany German president speaks with fighters of the Warsaw Uprising
At the start of a visit to Poland, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke with surviving resistance fighters from the Warsaw Uprising 80 years ago. Many events are being held in Poland these days to commemorate the desperate uprising against the German occupation in 1944; Steinmeier is taking part as a sign of remembrance of German crimes in the Second World War.
31.07.2024, 15:30
SDA
"We Germans are aware of our historical responsibility and we Germans must not forget," Steinmeier told the elderly men and women. Some had fought alongside the insurgents as twelve-year-old children. Steinmeier is also due to give a speech at the central ceremony at the monument to the uprising on Wednesday evening. After Roman Herzog in 1994, Steinmeier is the second president to be invited to speak on this important day of remembrance for Poland.
On August 1, 1944, 80 years ago, the Polish underground army attempted an uprising against the German occupation. The Armia Krajowa (Home Army) wanted to drive out the Germans so that Poland could regain control of its capital before the Soviet army approached. However, the Wehrmacht and SS brutally crushed the uprising in 63 days and carried out massacres of the civilian population, which were among the worst German war crimes. Around 200,000 people were killed, most of them civilians. Warsaw was largely destroyed in revenge.
The question of compensation remains topical for Poland
In the decades since, the Poles have rebuilt Warsaw and their entire country. However, the destruction and the enormous loss of life during the Second World War are the reason why Poland, even as a current EU and NATO partner, is still asking for compensation. The issue was also raised at the German-Polish government consultations in Warsaw at the beginning of July. The German government considers the issue of reparations to be legally closed, but is looking for ways to cooperate more closely with Poland. For Steinmeier as President, the relationship with Poland and the memory of its difficult history play a major role, according to the Presidential Office.
The Federal President will be accompanied on the visit to Warsaw by Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth. Steinmeier is due to meet Polish head of state Andrzej Duda in Warsaw on Thursday.
