World War Remembrance in Poland: Steinmeier urges Germany to take responsibility for Europe

In Poland demands for reparations for suffering suffered during the Second World War are getting louder. On the 80th anniversary of the German invasion of the country, however, Frank-Walter Steinmeier avoided the subject in his speech in Warsaw - and emphasized Germany's role in another area.

According to the Federal President, Germany must live up to its historical responsibility with a stronger European commitment. "I know well, my country has a special responsibility for this Europe," said Steinmeier at the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the Second World War.

"Because Germany - despite its history - was allowed to grow into new strength in Europe, so we Germans have to do more for Europe," Steinmeier said. And: "We must do more for the security of Europe, we must contribute more to the prosperity of Europe and that too: we must listen more for the cohesion of Europe."

Nationalism must oppose Germany. Germans have every reason to be the happiest Europeans, but they should not feel like the "better Europeans". In the presence of US Vice President Mike Pence and Chancellor Angela Merkel Steinmeier also emphasized the importance of transatlantic relations.

"America needs partners too"

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, on the other hand, renewed his country's demands for compensation for the damage caused during the Second World War on the anniversary of the German attack. "We have to talk about the losses at that time, we must demand the truth, we must demand redress" said Morawiecki in Gdansk. Morawiecki spoke on Westerplatte, which was the target of the German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939.

In recent days, both Morawiecki and Poland's President Andrzej Duda have repeated the call for reparations payments. On Thursday, the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had demanded from Germany talks about reparations. However, Germany regards the reparations issue as concluded. The Federal Government refers to the two plus four treaty on the foreign policy consequences of German unity in 1990.

In his speech in Warsaw, Steinmeier praised the US. "The power of America's ideas and values, its vision, its generosity" gave Europe a new chance after 1945. "For America, united Europe has always been a concern, and this America wanted true partnership and friendship in mutual respect," he said. Many things are no longer self-evident today. Europe must become more self-confident and stronger, but not without or even against America. "And I'm sure America needs partners in this world, too."

At the central commemoration ceremony at the beginning of the Second World War 80 years ago on Pilsudski Square, Poland's President Andrzej Duda received representatives from more than 30 countries. US President Donald Trump had canceled his participation in the commemoration in Warsaw because of hurricane "Dorian" at short notice. He is represented by Vice President Mike Pence. Also the Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Selenskyj is among the guests. Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the other hand, was not invited to the annoyance of Moscow.

In the morning Steinmeier had already bowed in the small town of Wielun before the victims of the German invasion. The Polish town of Wielun was attacked on 1 September 1939 as the first target of the German Wehrmacht - and thus a few minutes before the German attack on the Westerplatte.

In Wielun Steinmeier Poland asked forgiveness for German terror. Duda had Steinmeier before dawn on the market square of the small town received - exactly 80 years after the beginning of the first bombing of the Second World War. During the war, about six million people were killed in Poland, about half of them were Jews.