Polish President Karol Nawrocki on Monday, during the 86th anniversary commemoration of the outbreak of World War II at Westerplatte in Gdańsk, Poland, demanded that Germany pay reparations for the war damages inflicted on Poland. Nawrocki stated that settling the issue of reparations is essential to establish a partnership based on truth and good relations between Poland and Germany.
Speaking at the historic site where the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein shelled Polish positions in 1939, marking the start of the war in Europe, Nawrocki said, "In order to build a partnership built on truth and good relations, we must deal with the issue of reparations from the German state which, as Polish president, I unequivocally demand, for the common good." He added that reparations are necessary for Poland, a frontline NATO state, to achieve justice and clear relations with Germany.
Former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki supported Nawrocki's call, recalling Germany's brutal invasion and crimes during the war. Morawiecki noted that Germany has never paid reparations and estimated the owed amount at approximately $1.3 trillion (€1.11 trillion). He emphasized that those responsible must bear the consequences and their successors have a duty to compensate for the damages.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who also attended the ceremony, took a different approach by focusing on current security challenges. Tusk highlighted the importance of identifying Poland's enemies and allies, stressing NATO and European nations as key partners in defending Poland and Western civilization against present threats, particularly from Russia.
The reparations demand by President Nawrocki, who took office less than a month ago and previously headed the Institute of National Remembrance, marks a renewed push in Poland to address unresolved issues from World War II with Germany. The call comes amid ongoing debates within Poland about how to handle historical grievances and current geopolitical realities.
The event in Gdańsk was attended by top state officials and ministers, underscoring the significance of the anniversary and the reparations issue in Polish political discourse. The demand for reparations is part of Poland's broader effort to seek acknowledgment and compensation for the extensive suffering and destruction caused by the Nazi invasion and occupation during the war.
Sources: Euronews (https://gr.euronews.com/2025/09/01/polonia-germanikes-apozimioseis), HotNews.ro (https://hotnews.ro/presedintele-poloniei-cere-germaniei-sa-plateasca-despagubiri-pentru-al-doilea-razboi-mondial-le-cer-fara-echivoc-2056010), European Conservative (https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news-corner/polish-president-insists-germany-pay-war-reparations/), Yeni Şafak (https://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/polish-president-demands-reparations-from-germany-on-world-war-ii-anniversary-3707265)
