Warsaw, August 01, 2024, The Europe Today: According to NHC, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier met with survivors of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising and delivered a poignant speech at commemorations in the Polish capital on Wednesday.
The 63-day rebellion, which began on August 1, 1944, was a valiant effort by Polish resistance forces to expel Nazi occupiers from Warsaw. The insurrection was ultimately crushed by the German military, leaving a lasting scar on the city and its people.
“The Warsaw Uprising is one of the bloodiest chapters in the long history that our two peoples, the Poles and the Germans, share with one another. And it is one of the most heroic chapters in Polish history,” Steinmeier stated.
Steinmeier is only the second German president, after Roman Herzog in 1994, to be invited to speak at this significant ceremony in Poland. His invitation came from Polish President Andrzej Duda and Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski.
“I Ask, Here and Now, for Forgiveness”
Addressing the veterans of the Warsaw Uprising, Steinmeier acknowledged the immense suffering endured by the city during the uprising. “There are no words that could do justice to the horror imposed on the city during those two months,” he said. “And so I would like to say just one sentence. But one that comes entirely from the heart and is entirely serious. I ask, here and now, for forgiveness.”
He emphasized the importance of remembering the uprising, both for Poles and Germans. “You, the people of Poland, have never forgotten the Warsaw Uprising and you will never forget it. And we, the Germans, in whose name I have the privilege of addressing you here today, we must not forget it,” he said.
Steinmeier also spoke on the challenging path of German-Polish reconciliation. “I am delighted that we, Germans and Poles, have become good neighbors. It was a long road, and never an easy one for either side. When we consider everything that we have been through, then it is in fact almost a miracle. We can only be thankful for it,” he remarked.
Nod to Latest Government Bid for World War II Memorials, Compensation
Steinmeier alluded to the recent efforts towards reparations and compensation from Germany, referencing the new government led by Donald Tusk. After years of tension with the previous nationalist Law and Justice party (PiS), which had a stringent stance on Germany, the two countries have sought a more collaborative approach.
During a recent visit to Germany by Tusk, plans were floated for a German-Polish House in Berlin and a forum for remembrance of Polish suffering and victims of World War II. “Many other efforts are underway, including for the remaining survivors of the German occupation. Our two governments are liaising closely on this,” Steinmeier said.
Parallels Drawn to Ukraine: “War Has Come Back to Europe”
The German president drew parallels between the Warsaw Uprising and the current conflict in Ukraine. “Today, nobody in Europe is fighting as courageously, as heroically as the Ukrainian people. They are fighting for their freedom and their autonomy. They are fighting against a brutal and contemptible aggressor. We, Poles and Germans, stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and will continue to do so,” he declared.
Relations between Germany and Poland had been strained earlier in the Ukraine conflict due to perceived German hesitancy in supplying weaponry to Ukraine. Steinmeier underscored the significance of the anniversary, stating, “Today’s anniversary also imposes a duty on us – never again will we accept injustice and tyranny, aggression and occupation in Europe!”
Steinmeier will continue his visit in Poland on Thursday, participating in discussions with President Andrzej Duda as part of his schedule.
