On September 1st, Poland demanded Germany pay reparations for World War II. Poland estimates its losses at around $1.32 trillion dollars, which is higher than the $850 billion estimate made in 2019 by the ruling Law and Justice party.

Germany has already paid reparations to France, Britain, the Soviet Union, and the USA. However, they now refuse to pay reparations for the country that they destroyed most, Poland. Poland has calculated the sum of 1.32 trillion dollars in reparations by listing losses of art, infrastructure, agriculture, industry, forced labor, and the kidnapping and Germanization of Polish children.

There’s been no other country than Poland that’s been hurt the most by Nazi Germany, yet they still didn’t receive reparations. Culture, forestry, agriculture, infrastructure, and art, were either stolen or destroyed by German hands. Germany’s plan was to destroy Polish culture, nation, and national identity, in order to make the nation into a class of peasants and workers for the ruling Germans. This left the country in shambles after World War II which was only made worst by the tyrannical Soviet Union.

Germany’s pitiful argument against not wanting to pay reparations is that Poland already had its chance. In 1953, Poland’s communist ruling party denied any reparations that Germany was proposing because of pressure from the Soviet Union. Poland couldn’t speak for itself because of the repressive Soviet control at the time. Now Germany is using that excuse in refusing to pay reparations. Germany has also said reparations were paid to Eastern block countries and since Poland received some German land post-WWII the matter is closed.

The relationship between Poland and Germany has always been strained, but this intensified with the War in Ukraine. Germany had continuously used Russian gas and was extremely slow in helping Ukraine, promising to send military supplies but slowing the process. This came to the public, again, earlier in September when Ukraine’s foreign minister exposed Germany for not going through with its promise of sending the country Leopard tanks and infantry fighting vehicles. Keep in mind, this promise by Germany was made way back in April 2022. They also didn’t even directly want to send the weapons to Ukraine. They proposed a swap where NATO countries would give Ukraine their old Soviet-era tanks and Germany would give the NATO country their tanks. So basically, Germany didn’t want to give new and better-fighting weapons to a country that they are supposedly routing for. Germany claims to be pro-Ukraine but is still desperately trying to hold on to its relationship with Russia. This has definitely only made relations worst between Berlin and Warsaw.

“I am in favor of reparations and making amends for past atrocities but I believe it should be done in a meaningful and equitable way for the people of Poland,” says History teacher Mr.Mohan.

Overall, most Polish citizens are divided on the issue of reparations. While the current government is fighting for them, the opposition government claims that Poland needs to repair its relations with Berlin. Some citizens also don’t believe that reparations will be paid but believe the intention of at least trying, and bringing the issue to light is enough.