The letter emphasises that good neighbourliness will not be possible without redressing the harm done and without preserving awareness of the destruction caused by Germany during World War II. This is required in the first place out of regard for the memory of the victims of German crimes who have not lived to see the compensation materialise. In his letter, Deputy Minister Mularczyk appealed to the representatives of local authorities to engage in the measures aimed at promoting and consolidating the historical truth by, for instance, adopting resolutions expressing support for the efforts made by the Government to obtain compensation for war damage, commemorating the sites of German crimes across the country, or estimating the losses on the local level.

The Plenipotentiary acts in fulfilment of the will of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland as expressed in the Resolution of 14 September 2022 on seeking compensation by Poland for damage caused by Germany during World War II, and of the Council of Ministers as laid down in the Resolution no. 51 of 18 April 2023 on the need to settle Polish-German relations regarding the issue of reparations and compensation for pecuniary and non-pecuniary losses suffered by Poland and Poles as a result of Germany’s illegal attack on Poland in 1939 and the subsequent German occupation.

It must also be stressed that cooperation with central and local government authorities, NGOs and other entities involved in efforts to obtain compensation from the Federal Republic of Germany for the damage caused by German aggression and occupation in 1939-1945 is also one of the Plenipotentiary’s tasks as defined in the Regulation of 27 October 2022 by the Council of Ministers.

 The Polish side hopes that intense diplomatic efforts as well as promoting the case for reparations at home and abroad will lead to Germany's engaging in dialogue on this matter and finally settling the issue of compensation.

MFA Press Office