A letter informing Bundestag MPs about the losses endured by Poland during the Second World War has been dispatched by a Polish deputy foreign minister.
Arkadiusz Mularczyk, who previously led a government team responsible for compiling a report on Poland’s wartime losses, expressed his hope that this action would initiate a discussion within the Bundestag and prompt the German government to reconsider its stance on war reparations for Poland. Speaking to PAP (Polish Press Agency) on Sunday, Mularczyk stated, “I hope that this will stimulate a debate in the Bundestag and lead to a change in the German government’s position on war reparations for Poland.”
Poland’s Demand for EUR 1.3 Trillion in Reparations from Germany Met with Rejection
On September 1, 2022, the Polish government unveiled an extensive report detailing the material losses suffered by Poland during the Second World War, accompanied by a declaration to demand reparations amounting to EUR 1.3 trillion from Germany.
In response, the German Foreign Ministry dismissed Poland’s claims and declared the matter closed, affirming that the German government would not engage in negotiations regarding the issue.
Mularczyk acknowledged that his decision to send the letter was prompted by recent actions taken by left-wing Bundestag MPs. He asserted that these actions were evidence of Germany’s acknowledgement of its responsibility for war crimes, extending beyond the context of Poland.
German Parliament Faces Question on Compensation for Distomo Massacre Victims
In May, members of the Left party within the Bundestag submitted a question pertaining to compensation for victims of the Distomo massacre in 1944, which occurred during Germany’s occupation of Greece in WWII.
According to Mularczyk, there are groups within Germany that “can serve as Germany’s conscience.” He remarked, “There are courageous parliamentarians in Germany who address difficult issues for the country.” He further emphasized that perpetrators should not dictate compensation standards and that there should be no discrimination against victims.
“For this reason, I have decided to send the letter, along with a report on Poland’s war losses during World War II, to all Bundestag members,” he stated, indicating that the letter would soon be widely distributed in the Bundestag.