The vague and unanimous words of Donald Tusk and Olaf Scholz after the intergovernmental consultations in Warsaw clearly indicate that Poland will not accept full-scale war reparations from Germany. “Germany will try to provide support to the survivors of the occupation; a memorial to the Polish victims of World War II will be created in Berlin,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said today. “In a legal sense, the question of reparations has been explained in government decisions and agreements, but various consequences and conclusions can be drawn from its actual meaning,” Donald Tusk said.

Today, the first intergovernmental consultations between Poland and Germany since 2018 took place at the Prime Minister’s Office.

During the conference, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stressed that Germany “wants a strong Polish voice in Europe.”

To shape a good future, we need to see the past clearly

– he opinionated.

Scholz reminded that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising and the 85th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II.

We – the Germans – caused incredible suffering to Poland during World War II, we are aware of our guilt and responsibility for the millions of victims of the German occupation.

– he assured.

Therefore, Germany will try to provide support to the survivors of the occupation.

– he stressed.

The German Chancellor announced that “for this purpose, the federal cabinet decided to create a place in Berlin to commemorate the Polish victims of World War II and the Nazi occupation.” As she announced, the “Polish-German House” would be “a visible sign of not forgetting and a warning for the future.”

In addition, Scholz emphasized that German and Polish security are closely interconnected.

Poland’s security also means Germany’s security – this is what guides us as neighbors, allies in NATO and partners in the EU

– he stated.

Round words about improvement

Prime Minister Donald Tusk said after Polish-German intergovernmental consultations that talks on redressing wrongs should build on good relations and not become the subject of a diplomatic war again. He added that no amount could compensate Poland for its losses from the German attack.

After the consultations, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany would try to provide support to survivors of the occupation, adding that a memorial to Polish victims of World War II would be established in Berlin.

At a joint conference of heads of government, a journalist asked whether the Polish Prime Minister was not disappointed that it was impossible to provide special assistance to Polish citizens who were still alive and injured in World War II.

The Prime Minister replied that he was not at all disappointed with “the proposals and the good attitude of the German Chancellor and the German government, because no measures can satisfy the Polish people and no amount of money can compensate for what happened during World War II.”

He added that there was no disagreement between him and the German Chancellor on this issue.

In the legal sense, the issue of reparations has been explained in government decisions and agreements, but various consequences and conclusions can be drawn from its true meaning. What is important for me is that today I heard words and declarations that confirm the common belief in Poland that the rejection of reparations imposed by history does not change the fact of how many tragic losses in people, property and territory Poland suffered as a result of the German attack.

– said Tusk.

If we hear today that Germany, not in the context of reparations, is ready to take decisions that can compensate those who were direct victims of the war, (…) that Germany is ready to take joint responsibility for the security of the continent, because looking to the future, the most credible actions (…) are steps and signals in the right direction. However, whether this will make up for the losses suffered by Poland during World War II, of course, remains to be seen.

– recognize the head of the Polish government.

He stressed that talks on redressing mistakes, warnings and military cooperation should build good relations and should not again become the subject of diplomatic warfare, “let alone real conflict.”

Therefore, if there is a clear difference between the past, what we are doing now, and what we are doing now, we will seek a solution that will satisfy Poland, but not in the spirit of political confrontation, but in the spirit of mutual understanding.

– assured the Prime Minister.

As he concluded, he was somewhat disappointed by the history of the last 100 years in this region of Europe, but “encouraged by its readiness to have a serious conversation on this topic.”

““Nobody wants to play with anyone.”

Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that when it comes to compensating Poland for losses during World War II, “no one wants to outdo anyone.”

The German government’s intentions stem from clearly ethical and political needs.

– said Tusk.

During the conference of the German Chancellor and the Polish head of government, a question was raised about further steps regarding the formation of a Polish-German home or compensation to Poland for war losses.

The intention of the German government and the German Chancellor, what we are talking about is not to exchange something, but rather comes from a very clear need that is ethical, but also political, and this is more a need on the German side.

– said Tusk.

He added that “this in no way compensates for Poland’s losses due to German mistakes.”

This could possibly reopen Polish-German relations, because good manners are also very important in politics. Does this open something? We’ll see. It doesn’t close anything, that’s for sure.

– said the Prime Minister.

Nobody here wants to outdo anyone else in this regard.

– added Tusk.

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