In the face of a long-standing dispute over war reparations from Germany, Polish President Karol Nawrocki strongly criticized Prime Minister Donald Tusk's statement made during his visit to Berlin.Nawrocki, speaking at a press conference at Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport, stressed that victims of German aggression should not bear the cost of compensation for the harm suffered themselves..
Background to the dispute over reparations
The issue of war reparations from Germany for the destruction and crimes committed during World War II is one of the most controversial topics in Polish-German relations.Poland lost more than 6 million citizens as a result of German aggression, accounting for around 17% of the country's population. Material losses were equally disastrous:62% of industry, 30-40% of infrastructure and a significant part of urban development were destroyed, including 84% of Warsaw. Historically, in 1954, the communist Polish authorities waived some claims against the GDR in exchange for recognition of the border on Oder and Nysa. In the 1970s, Germany paid compensation to Polish forced laborers, and after the unification of Germany in 1992 Poland was transferred about PLN 4.7 billion.Berlin has consistently maintained that the matter of reparation is legally closed, which does not prevent Polish politicians from renewing demands.
In recent years the discussion has gained momentum, especially after the report of 2022 which estimated Polish losses at over PLN 6 trillion. President Nawrocki, who stressed in his election campaign the necessity of historical accounting, continues these efforts by meeting with German leaders such as President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Statement by Donald Tusk in Berlin
The controversy broke out after Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited Berlin on Monday, December 1, 2025, where he met Chancellor Friedrich Merzem.Tusk called on Germany to accelerate the compensation for surviving victims of World War II, pointing out that the number of direct victims fell from over 60,000 to around 50,000. "Hurry up if you really want to make such a gesture"– said Tusk, adding thatif Germany fails to act, Poland will consider financing damages from its own resources next year. "I will consider next year that Poland will meet this need with its own resources. I don't want to talk about it anymore," said the Prime Minister.
During the meeting, the Germans donated Poland a fragment of the sculpture – the head of St James the Elder from Gdańsk – and manuscripts stolen by the Nazis in 1941. Tusk assessed this as "absolutely unprecedented" and "the most important return of robbed cultural heritage sites". However, his suggestion about the possible financing of damages by Poland was met with harsh criticism in the country.
President Nawrock's harsh reaction
President Karol Nawrocki during a press conference at Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport, where he stayed in connection with a visit to the region, expressed his sadness about the Prime Minister's words. "I was saddened by the words of Prime Minister Donald Tusk. I recall my visit to President Steinmeier and Chancellor Merz, where I said that Poland, as a partner of Germany in the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance, wants to deal seriously with the reparation issue," Nawrocki said.
The key moment was his direct criticism of Tusk’s idea: "I do not know such a solution to the historical or political problem, nor to the decency or historical truth, in which the victims themselves pay for the evil suffered from the occupier and invader. What Prime Minister Tusk said in Berlin is very disturbing to me. I hope that Prime Minister Donald Tusk will apologise to Poles for these words and say that this is an expression of misunderstanding‘. The President also addressed the German authorities directly: "On behalf of the Polish people, I ask the Chancellor and the President of Germany to give serious consideration to the issue of damages which Poland owes after destruction during World War II„.
Nawrocki emphasized that Poles were attacked and murdered by Germans, so compensation is due to Germany. ‘Contrary to historical truth, contrary to logic, contrary to any values, it is for a nation who suffered persecution to pay for this sacrifice itself." – he also wrote on the X platform.
