The Chancellor of the Prime Minister informs about the competition for “Aid to the Polish Diaspora and Poles Abroad” on its website. Similar calls for proposals announced by the Government Plenipotentiary for the Polish Diaspora and Poles Abroad are held regularly. You can get funds here. for the development of the organizational structure of the worldwide Polish community, Polish community media, organization of cultural events and building Poland’s good image abroad.

This time, a new point has been added to the area mentioned above: “Polonia’s support for the acquisition of war reparations by Poland.” As we read in the rules of the competition, this support was intended to “intensify activities to obtain war compensation from Germany during World War II 1939 – 1945. The aim was to support the Polish diaspora in taking the initiative to promote historical truth in the field of German crimes against Polish citizens ” The word “repair” is never mentioned in the regulations.

“Polonian Polarization”

Poland wants to allocate PLN 5 million for this purpose. They should be issued for awareness campaigns, publications or expert articles. There was commotion among Polish diaspora organizations in Germany.

– I completely distance myself from this idea – commented Wiesław Lewicki, chairman of the Polish Organizations Convention in Germany, in an interview with DW. – If there is such a place to apply for war compensation, the Polish state must do so through legal channels, and not use Polish communities abroad for this purpose.

According to Lewicki, the announced competition was “testing Poles living abroad”, which could in turn be detrimental to the Polish community itself.

“This topic is very polarizing. Some will support joining such a campaign, others will be against – he said. – In addition, all organizations have laws of their activities. We have written cultural, social and integration goals, not political involvement.

ZPN praised

Józef Malinowski, president of the Polish Association in Germany (ZPN), an organization that is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, thinks differently. The union had a difficult history during the Nazi era, including persecution of activists and confiscation of assets, including bank assets and real estate. Eventually, the ZPN was banned by the Third Reich authorities. Some members were shot, others were sent to concentration camps. The trade union could resume its activities only after the end of the war.

– It’s a very good move – said DW Józef Malinowski. Historical truth is very little known or forgotten in Germany. When it comes to the victims of the Second World War, the Poles who lost their lives or suffered during the German occupation are often forgotten.

Polish House in Bochum, which before the war belonged to the Polish Union in Germany

According to Józef Malinowski, the issue of compensation still prevails. However, he considers getting compensation as a long-term process.

– Every politician in Germany, regardless of which party he belongs to, denies Poland’s claims – said the head of the ZPN. – I am pleased we have seen the publication of the Polish war loss report and it also includes a desire to recover property confiscated from us before the war. It must be remembered that not everything is solved.

The needs are different

Marzena Nowak of the Polish women’s association in Berlin, which supports Polish women and families living in the German capital, admits that her organization is not involved in politics. The amount of PLN 5 million, which Poland wants to allocate for the Polish community initiative in the field of obtaining reparations for war, is very impressive.

“There are more pressing needs, such as psychological support for families who have been coming to Germany with their husbands or partners for several years and cannot find a way out,” says Marzena Nowak. – I once told the Polish consul that if such people are not assisted in emigration, they will return to the country as “ship wrecks” and they must be assisted in Poland.

The huge demand for this type of help is evidenced by the great interest in the helpline in Polish, where psychologists are on duty two hours a week. They could do more tasks, but no money for that. The Polish Women’s Association in Berlin recently started fundraising for the so-called “Dom Polski” (name of the contract), which, among other things, provides various types of training, workshops or consultancies, and which at the same time serves as a platform for other initiatives that currently do not have fixed seats.

Marzena Nowak draws attention to one more problem.

– Participation in these types of politically motivated campaigns could be detrimental to Polish diaspora associations when applying for funding from the German side in the future – admitted the head of Polish women in Berlin. – Politicians will change one day, and we will continue to live here. It can’t be forgotten.

“Reconciliation can’t be bought”

Kamila Schoell-Mazurek of the Polish Social Council in Berlin has similar thoughts. He admitted that the information about PLN’s assistance of 5 million to receive compensation surprised and disappointed him.

– At one time, the Polish government said that there was not so much money for the Polish diaspora, and then funds for psychological support were cut. And we know how many Poles abroad need such help – said Schoell-Mazurek. – PLN 5 million is a very large amount, it can help us develop our structure and the potential of the Polish community.

According to representatives of the Polish Social Council, the claims made by the Poles are of little importance to the average representative of the Polish community.

– I think this is an attempt to change history with taxpayer money. Unsuccessful method. Because you can’t buy an understanding or a reconciliation for 5 million or 40 million zlotys taken from the German minority, as long as you don’t sit at the table together, believes Kamila Schoell-Mazurek. – Therefore, I appeal to change the purpose of this fund and transfer it to psychological assistance and social counseling for Poles abroad, which will help solve real problems.