The newly elected Polish President, Karol Nawrocki, has called on Germany to address reparations related to World War II during a commemoration of the German invasion of Poland in 1939.
Speaking at the Westerplatte War Memorial in Gdansk on Monday, Nawrocki stated, “In order to establish a partnership based on truth and good relations, we must resolve the issue of reparations from the German state.”
The conservative right-wing politician emphasized, as reported by the Polish news agency PAP, that “Poland, as a frontline state and a key player in NATO’s eastern flank, requires justice and transparency in its relations with Germany, and also needs reparations from the German government.” He urged the Polish administration to support this demand.
In recent years, Poland’s conservative Law and Justice Party has notably focused on pursuing reparations from Germany for the extensive damages incurred during World War II.
Support for Nawrocki, who is not a party member, was instrumental in his election as president, having taken office in early August.
Germany, on the other hand, believes that this matter was conclusively resolved through reunification treaties, which stated that Poland is not entitled to reparations.
The Nazi invasion of Poland marked the beginning of World War II on September 1, 1939. In one of the initial battles, a German warship bombarded the Polish military site at Westerplatte in Gdansk, where Polish defenders held out against the superior Nazi forces for seven days.