German media about reparations: apology and warm words are not enough

“What connects the towns of Fucecchio in Italy, Chortiatis in Greece and Ciepielów in Poland? Wehrmacht committed terrifying massacre during World War II,” we read.

If someone's names Fucecchio, Chortiatis and Ciepiels say nothing, it means that it is like most Germansmany of which “don't even know what happened in their own yard during the Third Reich.” According to a representative study, 80 years after the end of World War II in Europe, 55 percent of the Germans cannot replace the place in its commune, which they associate with the era of national socialism. Almost 40 percent were in favor of completely closing the issue of the Nazi past – writes “Spiegel”.

“On the other hand, in Italy, Greece and Poland, the memory of German war crimes is still fresh. Fucecchio, Chortiatis and Ciepielów are by no means the only places where the Wehrmacht and SS made massacre. Occupational terror consumed countless lives in these three countries. In Poland there were five to six million civil cacities. (…) In 1945, the country was in ruins.

You need to know about it when Polish politicians regularly demand reparation from Germany for war destruction. The Polish expert committee determined in 2022. Debt for the equivalent of EUR 1.3 trillion. The German government under the chancellor of Chancellor Olaf Scholz then refused to pay, justifying that the issue of reparation is “closed”. Already in 1953, socialist Poland waived compensation from the former GDR – the portal reminded, pointing out that the then government in Warsaw did not have a democratic ID card and was dependent on Moscow.

According to the portal, in fact the German side is afraid that if it starts paying off the debts once, he will not be able to stop. Because also Italy and Greece They demanded and demand significant reparations.

In Italy, victims of national socialism may receive financial compensation from 2022 – although from the Italian government. He made a total of EUR 55 million to 2026.

According to “Spiegla”, this issues the worst testimony of the Federal Republic of Germany. “It may be right in legal terms, but he is morally a loser” – it was emphasized in the text.

“Rituals of apology and warm words from German presidents and chancellor are not enough.” The new German government of Friedrich Merz “should seriously treat the demands of reparations from Italy, Greece and Poland. Germany must also financially meet their historical wine and finally pay their war debts” – concludes “Spiegel”.