Franziska Brantner, co-chair of the Greens, sharply criticized the federal government due to the lack of aid for Polish Nazi victims. Brantner told the Süddeutsche Zeitung (Friday edition) that it is shameful that the black-red coalition is unwilling to finally initiate the humanitarian gesture that is long overdue for the Polish Nazi victims. The aid was promised starting in 2024 and was subsequently mentioned by Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) in the summer. She criticized that this unnecessary broken promise is severely straining relations with Poland. While the few 100 million euros in question cannot compensate for the suffering inflicted upon these people, Brantner argued that the money can allow the remaining approximately 50,000 survivors to spend their final years with dignity, serving as a sign of responsibility and recognition.
Former SPD politician Markus Meckel warned that if they wait cynically until the last victims die, they assume a guilt. He expressed that this situation makes him profoundly sad. Meckel, who was the last Foreign Minister of the GDR after the fall of the wall and later an SPD member of the Bundestag, has been dedicated to German-Polish reconciliation for decades. Meckel stated that while they speak often about the need to defend Europe against the threat from Russia, such defense cannot happen without close cooperation with Poland. He lamented that concrete projects are not moving forward, and trust is missing, adding that this also relates to the fact that this gesture is not forthcoming.
The humanitarian gesture for still-living Polish Nazi victims was first mentioned by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and later by his successor Friedrich Merz. The Polish-German Reconciliation Foundation recently called for private donations in an appeal titled We cannot wait any longer due to the lack of this humanitarian gesture.
