NextFin news, Polish President Karol Nawrocki visited Berlin on Tuesday to demand reparations from Germany for damages suffered during World War II. Nawrocki stated that resolving the reparations issue is essential for establishing a partnership based on truth and good relations between Poland and Germany.
The visit took place in Berlin, Germany's capital, where Nawrocki met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The demand for reparations has been a contentious issue, complicating efforts to present a united front against Russia's Vladimir Putin.
Earlier this month, on September 1, during the 86th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II, Nawrocki reiterated Poland's claims for reparations at the Westerplatte Monument war memorial near Gdansk. He emphasized that any future partnership with Germany depends on settling this matter.
Poland's parliamentary commission estimated in September 2022 that Polish war damages amount to approximately 6.2 trillion zloty (around €1.5 trillion or $1.7 trillion). However, Germany maintains that the issue of reparations has been legally settled and points to ongoing security cooperation between the two countries.
Security concerns have intensified following recent breaches of Polish airspace by Russian drones. This has added urgency to discussions on cooperation between Poland and Germany, although the reparations demand remains a significant point of tension.
Poland's center-left government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, has also sought financial support for surviving victims of Nazi Germany, estimated at around 70,000 people, but has not yet succeeded.
Rafal Leskiewicz, spokesman for President Nawrocki, confirmed that reparations would be a key topic during the Berlin talks. Meanwhile, Knut Abraham, the German government's coordinator for German-Polish cooperation, reiterated Germany's position that the reparations issue is legally closed and highlighted the importance of military and financial backing in the current security environment.
The visit underscores the complex and tense nature of Polish-German relations, balancing historical grievances with contemporary security challenges in Europe.
Source: POLITICO.eu, DW.com (September 16, 2025)
Explore more exclusive insights at nextfin.ai.
