A report submitted by Poland puts the damage inflicted by Nazi Germany in the country during World War II at 6.2 trillion zlotys (1.32 trillion euros). This was announced by the chairman of the national conservative governing party PiS, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, on Thursday in Warsaw. The report is the basis for possible reparation claims against Germany.
It is estimated that up to six million people lost their lives in Poland alone. According to previous Polish estimates, based on an inventory from 1946 plus interest, the damage amounts to 800 billion euros.
The place where the report is presented is also symbolic: the Warsaw Royal Castle is considered a symbol of the city that was largely destroyed by Nazi Germany in World War II and later rebuilt.
Poland’s government had repeatedly announced the report prepared by the parliamentary commission. It is considered the basis for a decision by Warsaw on possible reparation claims against Germany.
Former commission chairman Arkardiusz Mularczyk said on Polish radio that they would present a three-volume report and “the amount by which we estimate the losses to the Republic of Poland from World War II.” Further decisions on this topic, “whether of a diplomatic or political nature”, are a matter for Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and PiS Chairman Jaroslaw Kaczynski.
The federal government rejects any claims for reparations. For them, the question of the two-plus-four treaty on the foreign policy aspects of German unity is closed.
