Today the Polish government announced that it will seek $1.3 trillion in reparations from Germany stemming from the Nazi invasion and 5-year occupation of Poland. Today marks the 83rd anniversary of the German invasion of Poland and the start of the Second World War.
Jarosław Kaczyński, the leader of Poland's Law & Justice Party, said Thursday "we will turn to Germany to open negotiations on reparations".
Germany contends that the question of reparations is concluded and that Poland, in 1953, waived further reparations and has repeatedly confirmed this waiver. But Poland counters that the former socialist government was influenced heavily by the Soviet Union and did not demand enough from Germany. Poland blames Germany for the loss of infrastructure, industry, farming, culture and 5.2 million lives.
I will be curious to see how this plays out between Germany and Poland. I seriously doubt any actual monetary reparations will take place.
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