In the upcoming weekly issue of “Sieci”, a very important interview with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will be published, opening a new political scene. Today, exclusively for readers of the wPolicyce.pl portal, quotes about reparations and compensation for crimes and destruction committed in Poland by the German state during World War II.

MICHAŁ KARNOWSKI, WEEKLY NETWORK: Behind us is a presentation of a report on the losses Poland suffered as a result of the German invasion in 1939 and its subsequent terrible occupation. This event is very popular in the world. What is the purpose of taking up this topic?

PRIME MINISTER MATEUSZ MORAWIECKI: The goal is justice. Restoring the right proportions for things. For far too long we have tolerated a situation in which Poland, the biggest victim of World War II, was outside the mechanism for redress that Germany had to pay to the countries it attacked.

It is very clear that only the PiS government more than 80 years after the war raised this issue. However, an awareness of what World War II is and what totalitarianism is, both Nazi-German and communist-Soviet, is a necessary condition for us not to experience the return of the demons of the 20th century again. victims, but also concern for the future of the next generation.

What’s the next step in this? President Kaczyński stated: “Today is not just an act of presenting a particular work, a documentation. It is also a decision to raise this issue in international forums, in particular in Polish-German relations”. How exactly does this activity look like? Will the government take it?

The government will of course be involved in this. We intend to raise it both in relations with the German government and in international forums, and to build broad support for the issue of reparations. After all, the matter certainly has its current context.

Modern barbarians should know that they cannot escape responsibility for their crimes – genocide, destruction and looting. They must be aware that justice will surely overtake them. This applies to generals as well as soldiers, civil authorities and ordinary people. This concerns and should apply to all countries.

Did you find anything particularly surprising about your reaction to the report?

I am surprised how many Polish politicians and journalists react allergic to this issue. I understand that you may not believe in the success of our actions, because they will not work immediately. But rejecting the idea of ​​reparations for Poland is something I don’t understand. This is the kind of terrible inferiority complex that plagues much of the Polish opposition.

Yet the injustice of this war was well understood by Zbigniew Herbert when he wrote: “It is not in my power to pardon on behalf of those who were betrayed at dawn.” Tell me, what kind of world is this where the victim has to apologize to the executioner or ask for his forgiveness? No, we are talking here about the absolute foundation of human civilization. For the bad guys must first make amends, damages and compensation.

Only then can you talk about forgiveness.

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