Damage in World War II: Baerbock: No reparations for Poland

Germany will not pay reparations to Poland for damage sustained in World War II. At the meeting with her Polish counterpart Rau, Foreign Minister Baerbock also made it clear that Germany’s historical responsibility does not end.

Germany’s no to reparations payments from Poland remains. Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has rejected the neighboring country’s demand for billions in payments for damage suffered in the Second World War. From the German government’s point of view, the issue of reparations is “closed,” she said at a joint press conference with Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau in Warsaw.

Question about reparations “legally resolved”

Baerbock thus confirmed Germany’s official position, which had been in force for many years, that there was no legal basis for reparation claims from Poland. Germany stands by its historical responsibility “without ifs or buts” and says Baerbock that “there can be no final stroke”. However, legal foundations were created during the construction of the EU, which is why the question of reparations was “legally clarified”.

Rau: German position will continue to develop

Rau emphasized the joint responsibility of Poland and Germany: He was “convinced that the position of the German government on this issue will continue to develop as a result of the dialogue.”

Poland is aiming for early negotiations with Germany on reparations and has already sent a corresponding diplomatic note to Berlin. A parliamentary commission had presented a report in which the World War damage in Poland is estimated at more than 1.3 trillion euros.