Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz | Berlin 12.01.2025 | Photo: flickr.com premierrp
During the Polish-German intergovernmental consultation in Berlin, Prime Minister Donald Tusk made a firm appeal to the German side on compensation for the still alive Polish victims of World War II. The Head of the Polish Government stressed the urgent need for action, pointing to the decreasing number of people entitled to compensation. If Germany does not make a quick declaration, Poland will consider paying out of its own budget," said Tusk at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merzem.
The issue of war reparations and redress for victims of German crimes remains one of the most difficult topics in Polish-German relations. Germany consistently maintains that the case is closed from a legal and political point of view, citing the 1953 declaration in which People's Poland – under Soviet pressure – waived reparation claims. As Chancellor Merz stressed, Germany recognises its historic responsibility and conducts dialogue with Poland to find solutions. "The process of commemorating victims and facing history is never completed," said Merz, adding that in the past Germany has given the survivors of Nazi terror about EUR 2 billion.
Prime Minister Tusk strongly rejected this position, recalling that in the 1950s Poland was not a sovereign state and the decision to renounce reparation did not reflect the will of the nation. ‘Poland did not receive compensation for losses and crimes from World War II" – said Tusk, stressing that this view is common in Polish society, regardless of political divisions.
Urgent call: "Hurry up"
Tusk devoted special attention to the living victims of war. According to estimates of the Polish-German Reconciliation Foundation, there are currently about 50 thousand of them – last year it was still 60 thousand. ‘Hurry if you really want to make such a gesture" – he appealed to the Germans, pointing to the passing time. The Prime Minister announced further talks on the same day, but warned: "If we do not get a quick and unambiguous declaration, I will consider the decision next year that Poland will fulfil this need with its own resources„.
Tusk also referred to the "compensation gesture" proposed by Germany last year, amounting to EUR 200 million, which the Polish side considered to be a symbolic and insufficient amount.
Political and expert responses
Prime Minister Tusk's words triggered immediate reactions in Poland. The head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister Jan Grabiec assessed that Chancellor Merz had received them as a "little diplomatic touch". In turn President Zbigniew Bogucki, the chief of the law firm, called the idea of paying compensation from Polish means of "fatal". "It's like saying that someone who has suffered in an accident is not supposed to pay compensation, but his family," commented Bogucki.
A broad context for intergovernmental consultations
The meeting of Tusk and Merza took place as part of Polish-German intergovernmental consultations, which also covered other topics such as support for Ukraine, energy security and economic cooperation. Despite historical tensions, both leaders expressed their willingness to deepen bilateral relations. Chancellor Merz stressed that Germany and Poland are close allies in the EU and NATO, and dialogue on difficult topics is essential for the future.
W mediach niemieckich słowa Tuska zostały szeroko cytowane, z naciskiem na apel o pośpiech. Według sondaży, 60 proc. Niemców uważa, że ich kraj zrobił wystarczająco dużo w kwestii zadośćuczynień, co kontrastuje z polskim oczekiwaniem sprawiedliwości. W Polsce debata na temat reparacji ożywiła się po zmianie rządu w 2023 roku, choć poprzedni rząd PiS domagał się znacznie wyższych kwot.
W sieciach społecznościowych, takich jak X (dawniej Twitter), oświadczenie Tuska spotkało się z mieszanymi reakcjami – od krytyki pomysłu samodzielnych wypłat po poparcie dla presji na Niemcy. Jeden z użytkowników napisał: „Polska. Pierwszy kraj na świecie, który sam sobie wypłaci reparacje„.
Były Premier Mateusz Morawiecki napisał w serwisie X:
Niemieckie zbrodnie to niemiecka odpowiedzialność. Muszą zostać zadośćuczynione, ale nie kosztem Polski! Dlaczego rząd Koalicji Obywatelskiej znów wybiera interes Berlina, a nie Warszawy?
Pamięć, prawda i sprawiedliwość! Niemcy muszą zapłacić za swoje zbrodnie. Niech rząd wreszcie upomni się o Polskę, a nie schyla głowę przed Berlinem!
Apel premiera Tuska podkreśla pilność sprawy, w której czas gra kluczową rolę. Z malejącą liczbą żyjących świadków i ofiar II wojny światowej, Polska sygnalizuje gotowość do samodzielnych kroków, co może stać się precedensem w relacjach międzynarodowych. Czy Niemcy odpowiedzą na wezwanie? Przyszłe miesiące pokażą, czy dialog przyniesie konkretne rozwiązania, czy też konflikt historyczny pozostanie nierozstrzygnięty.
