Poland-Germany reparations dispute overshadows leaders’ summit in Berlin

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have clashed over compensation for the damage Germany inflicted on Poland during the Nazi era.

The public disagreement between the two leaders, who had pledged to mend the often-strained relations between their countries, overshadowed talks in Berlin intended to project unity and cooperation on a range of issues, including defense and support for Ukraine.

Instead, the two leaders argued over how Germany should atone for its actions during the Second World War.

Merz, standing alongside Tusk, said, “We must keep the memories, even the painful ones, alive. I hope we can do this in a way that does not divide us, but rather brings us closer together.”

However, Tusk, under pressure from the opposition nationalist-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, took a harder line on the issue than in the past, criticizing Germany’s rationale for refusing to pay war reparations to Poland.

Tusk stated, “In Poland, we all believe that Poland has not received compensation for the losses and crimes of the Second World War.”

After his re-election in 2023, Tusk had not prioritized the reparations claims of the previous PiS government, which had demanded €1.3 trillion from Germany for its 1939-1945 occupation of Poland. Berlin has repeatedly stated that the issue is legally “closed.”

However, on Monday, Tusk revived the issue by criticizing the German argument that Poland waived its right to reparations in the 1950s while under the control of the Soviet Union.

PiS politicians, including Poland’s current president, Karol Nawrocki, argue that the waiver was made under Soviet pressure and cannot be considered valid. Tusk reiterated this view on Monday.

Tusk claimed, “Germany adheres to this official diplomatic agreement from the 1950s. Those who know history know that Poland had no say in this matter in the 1950s. Poland’s waiver of reparations is not seen as an act reflecting the opinion of the Polish people. The Polish people had no say in this matter.”

The renewed tensions over reparations threaten to complicate the two leaders’ efforts to smooth over differences on a range of issues, from disagreements over national border controls to Berlin’s investigation into the explosions that crippled the Nord Stream subsea pipelines carrying gas from Russia to Germany.

The Tusk government had frequently argued that while there is a moral justification for reparations, there is no legal way to compel Berlin to pay, and therefore, pursuing the issue would damage relations with Germany, Poland’s largest economic partner.

At the same time, Merz came to office promising to improve relations with Poland and made a visit to Warsaw on his first full day in office.

Merz later said he saw the “Weimar Triangle,” an informal alliance between Germany, Poland, and France, as a potential engine for creating a more robust European defense strategy.

On Monday, the Merz government announced a series of other steps to mitigate Warsaw’s anger over Berlin’s refusal to pay reparations, but these measures are unlikely to appease many Poles.

Merz said he would proceed with plans to build a memorial in Berlin dedicated to the Polish victims of Nazi Germany and pledged his government would return Polish cultural artifacts looted by the Nazis.

Germany also pledged in a joint statement that it would “examine possibilities for providing further support to the Polish victims of Nazi aggression.”

This commitment refers to a proposal by former Chancellor Olaf Scholz to provide financial compensation to the surviving Polish victims of Nazi Germany, but this plan has not yet been implemented.

Tusk expressed his frustration on this matter on Monday, arguing that time is running out.

Tusk said, “When I discussed this with Chancellor Scholz, the number [of those still alive] was just over 60,000. Today, that number is 50,000.”

“Please, please, if you really want to make this gesture, speed things up,” Tusk said, adding that if Berlin does not act faster, Warsaw will compensate the victims with its own money.

Despite the disagreement, Merz and Tusk said they were in close contact regarding developments in Ukraine and negotiations for a possible peace agreement.

Tusk described the level of cooperation as “truly unprecedented” and warned against the risk of fueling divisions between the two countries.

Tusk said, “On both sides of the border, there are radicals interested in fueling anti-German sentiments in Poland and anti-Polish sentiments and moods in Germany. But I believe they will not achieve their goals.”