Poland sent letters to US congressmen about reparations for World War II

Poland sent letters to members of the US House of Congress about the right to receive compensation for the country’s losses in World War II from Germany. This was announced by Deputy Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Arkadiusz Mularczyk.

“I sent letters to all US congressmen, all US senators with information about Polish military losses,” Mularczyk said (quote according to TASS). According to him, congressmen should be aware that “the issue of World War II, Polish military losses, compensation has not been resolved and is not a closed topic.”

Mularczyk added that he was confident in the possibility of obtaining compensation from Germany, but Warsaw “must be very effective, consistent.” In particular, the Deputy Minister announced his intention to send letters to the European Parliament, the state parliaments of Spain, Portugal, France and “all partners and allies.”

Poland addressed the congressmen of both chambers before – on January 10, Mularczyk also addressed asking the United States to influence Germany. Then he said that the United States “today determines the world order, a key country when it comes to respect for the international order, human rights, the rule of law and international justice.”

On September 14, 2022, the Polish Parliament adopted a resolution in which it called on the political leadership of the FRG to “unconditionally assume political, historical, legal and financial responsibility” for all the harm inflicted by Nazi Germany on the Polish people. The resolution states that Warsaw has never received any compensation.

At the end of October of the same year, the Polish Foreign Ministry published a complete list of claims against Germany for damages. In particular, Poland demands from the German authorities to compensate material and non-material losses in the amount of $1.3 trillion, to pay compensation to the victims of German aggression and occupation and their families, etc.

The Federal Republic of Germany has repeatedly noted that in 1953 Poland officially renounced reparations, so they see no reason to start paying them. On October 4, 2022, German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock said that the country is aware of “its historical responsibility”, but considers the issue of reparations closed.