Wielun, September 01, 2024, The Europe Today: Poland’s leaders underscored the importance of a robust defense in the face of ongoing conflict in neighboring Ukraine as they commemorated the 85th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland, which marked the beginning of World War II.
Polish President Andrzej Duda, along with Germany’s deputy ambassador Robert Rohde, attended a solemn ceremony in Wielun, the first civilian target of German bombing in the early hours of September 1, 1939. The brutal occupation of Poland by Nazi Germany from 1939 to 1945 resulted in the deaths of over 6 million Poles, including 3 million Jews, and inflicted severe damage on the country’s infrastructure, industry, and agriculture.
Duda Renews Call for German Reparations
During the ceremony, President Duda reiterated Poland’s call for reparations from Germany, emphasizing the lingering pain and unresolved issues stemming from the war. “We can say that we have forgiven even though we remember, even though the pain is persisting and even though there are still tens of thousands of those who have been directly hurt by the Germans,” Duda stated.
“Forgiveness and acknowledgment of guilt are one thing, reparations for the damage is another,” he continued, pointing out that this issue has remained unresolved for over 80 years. Duda, who hails from the national conservative Law and Justice Party (PiS), which governed Poland from 2015 to 2023, has been a vocal advocate for reparations, with previous PiS-led governments demanding €1.3 trillion ($1.44 trillion) in compensation from Germany.
However, the current pro-European Union government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, has softened its stance on the matter, seeking a more diplomatic approach. Polish media have reported that Warsaw and Berlin are exploring compensation for the living victims of Nazi Germany, with Poland estimating that up to 70,000 people could be eligible.
Tusk Warns of Ongoing Threats in Europe
Meanwhile, at a separate ceremony on the Westerplatte peninsula—where a military outpost was shelled by a German warship just minutes after the attack on Wielun—Prime Minister Tusk and Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz laid wreaths and participated in a memorial roll call for fallen soldiers.
Tusk used the occasion to remind attendees of the ongoing war in Europe, referencing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began in 2022. In a pointed remark directed at Germany, Tusk stressed that it is not enough to merely speak of “reconciliation” or to “bend your head in a sense of guilt.”
“The best sign of lessons learned from the past is the readiness to organize the entire Western world, Europe, and NATO for the defense against aggression that we are witnessing today in the battlefields of Ukraine,” Tusk declared. He emphasized that Poland must never again face aggression alone, calling for unity and cooperation among Western allies.
Tusk also highlighted Poland’s efforts to build “the most modern army in Europe, one of the strongest in Europe” as a means of contributing to NATO’s strength and ensuring the defense of Polish civilization. “We must never again expose our homeland to any risks,” he concluded.
