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Polish President Karol Nawrocki on Tuesday renewed his country’s demand for reparations from Germany over losses suffered during World War II, while also criticizing the absence of a monument in Berlin dedicated to Polish victims of the war.
Speaking at a ceremony on the Westerplatte Peninsula in Gdansk marking the 87th anniversary of the start of World War II, Nawrocki said around 6 million Polish citizens were killed during the conflict, about 90% of them civilians, according to Poland’s PAP news agency.
He called on the German government and German public to address the issue of reparations and compensation in the name of historical justice and future relations.
“A truly strong and allied declaration requires our allies and neighbors in Berlin to pay us reparations,” Nawrocki said.
Nawrocki said any reparations should be directed toward Poland’s armed forces and defense industry, allowing the country to receive what he described as its rightful compensation without relying on Western loans.
He also criticized the lack of a memorial in Berlin dedicated specifically to Polish victims of World War II.
Poland has for years sought compensation from Germany for wartime destruction and losses.
The Law and Justice Party, or PiS, first revived the issue in 2017 and established a parliamentary commission on reparations while in government in 2022.
The commission later estimated Poland’s claims at €1.3 trillion.
Germany’s government at the time rejected Poland’s demand.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, speaking at the same commemoration, said one of the key lessons of World War II was the importance of solidarity and unity for Poland, Europe, the U.S. and NATO.
He warned against allowing fascism, hatred and hostility to re-emerge, saying only then would the sacrifice of Polish soldiers killed at Westerplatte retain its meaning.
Tusk also called for continued support for Ukraine, warning that the coming autumn and winter could be critical for Ukraine’s independence and for the security of Poland and the wider free world.
“We must help Ukraine survive. We cannot repeat the mistakes of that time; Munich must not be repeated,” Tusk said.
World War II began when Nazi Germany invaded Poland on Sept. 1, 1939.
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