Polish FM: WWII German reparations morally due but ‘legally hopeless’

Poland’s foreign minister Radosław Sikorski said Germany’s WWII reparations are morally justified but legally “hopeless,” even as President Karol Nawrocki demanded compensation and urged government backing. It is reported by Upmp.news with reference to “Polskie Radio”.

Sikorski, who is also deputy prime minister, wrote on X that he had “pledged to vote for PiS if they secured reparations,” but “no transfer reached my family,” adding that Poland’s note to Germany “did not even include the word ‘reparations.’”

“If President Karol Nawrocki secures them, he gets my vote. Because he cannot be deceiving Poles, right?” he wrote.

“The government believes that although morally Poland deserves redress for German crimes during World War Two, legally the matter is unfortunately hopeless. But we will cheer the president’s initiatives,” Sikorski said.

He also questioned why “the nationalist side” does not seek reparations from Russia, which he said had “appropriated” compensation assigned to Poland at Potsdam. “Curious,” he added.

At a Monday ceremony at Westerplatte, Nawrocki said he demands reparations from Germany “to build a partnership with our western neighbor based on truth and good relations,” and appealed for the government’s support.

“As president of Poland, I unequivocally demand [reparations] for our future,” he said.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said during a May visit to Warsaw that the reparations issue was “legally closed.

“As for legal issues in the context of possible reparations, they are closed. Which does not mean we will not talk about joint projects, joint ideas,” Merz said.

(jh)

Source: PAP