Germany Help for victims of Nazi terror in Poland instead of reparations
The surviving victims of the German occupation of Poland during the Second World War are to receive help from the German government in the near future.
02.07.2024, 17:06
SDA
This is part of an action plan designed to put German-Polish relations on a new footing following the change from a right-wing conservative to a center-left government in Warsaw. The 40-page plan was agreed at the first government consultations between the two countries in six years in Warsaw. However, it does not contain a specific amount of compensation.
"Germany is aware of the gravity of its guilt, of its responsibility for the millions of victims of the German occupation, and of the task that arises from this," said Scholz at a joint press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Tusk said that the aid promised by the German government could serve to reopen German-Polish relations. "Because good gestures are also very important in politics."
PiS government strained relations with anti-German tones
In recent years, the national-conservative PiS government, which led Poland from 2015 to 2023, had strained relations with Berlin with anti-German tones and demands for reparations amounting to 1.3 trillion euros. As a result, there have been no government consultations since November 2018. In December, the PiS government was replaced by Tusk's center-left alliance. Since then, the climate has improved.
During his inaugural visit to Berlin in February, the new Polish Prime Minister had already accepted the German government's view that the issue of reparations was legally closed. On Tuesday, he reaffirmed this and said: "There is no amount of money that would compensate for everything that happened during the Second World War." Nevertheless, there is a moral and material need for action. The Chancellor's announcement is now a step in the right direction.
Berlin does not want to set a precedent
However, it remained unclear exactly what form the aid for the victims would take and how much it would amount to. There are reasons for this. The German government wants to prevent the benefits from becoming a door opener for compensation claims from other victim groups. Instead of direct financial aid for individuals, it is therefore offering help via a foundation that supports certain institutions, for example.
But the matter is also tricky for the Polish government. Any amount that is mentioned publicly would be compared by supporters of a tough stance against Germany with the 1.3 trillion euros in reparation claims made by the old government. The aid now planned will only be a fraction of this. Even before the consultations, a sum in the low three-digit millions was being discussed.
An estimated 40,000 victims of National Socialism remain
Tusk hopes that the aid will be provided within months. It is estimated that there are still 40,000 victims of the German occupation who can hope for this. "The situation of elderly victims is one that concerns us greatly, and we will also undertake activities in this area," emphasized Scholz, who was accompanied by ten federal ministers in Warsaw.
Another project in the service of reconciliation is the construction of the German-Polish House in Berlin. The house is intended to commemorate the complicated history of both countries and the brutal German occupation during the Second World War (1939-1945) as well as create a place of remembrance for the Polish victims. Both sides attach great importance to completing this building as quickly as possible, according to the paper.
Scholz: "Poland's security is also Germany's security"
The second component of Germany's support for Poland concerns the protection of NATO's eastern flank. Poland is one of the NATO states bordering Russia and Belarus. "For me, it is important that Germany is prepared to take on a much greater responsibility for the security of the continent, to ensure that there will be no war in Europe," said Tusk. Scholz emphasized: "Poland's security is also Germany's security". Cooperation in the area of security and defense should be expanded in a targeted manner.
The action plan gives a lot of space to the topic of defense. "We will strengthen the interoperability and standardization of our defence capacities, increase production capacities and promote investments in our defence industry," it states, for example.
Initiatives for tanks and ammunition
Specifically, there is talk of developing joint initiatives in the field of tanks and ammunition. This also involves increasing the availability of spare parts for Leopard battle tanks, which both countries have supplied to Ukraine.
In addition, Poland and Germany want to coordinate their "efforts to create a stronger and more capable European pillar in NATO", which contributes significantly to the deterrent potential of the alliance. Poland is also considering participating in the "European Sky Shield" initiative coordinated by Germany for European air defense.
