In Warsaw, a discussion unfolded between Deputy Foreign Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk and a delegation representing the Polish-German group in the Bundestag. The Polish side included Mularczyk himself, while the German representatives were Paul Ziemiak (CDU), Nyke Slawik from the Greens, Axel Schäfer from the SPD, and Joachim Wundrak from the AfD. The talks focused on Germany’s memory policy, reparations, and the status of cultural assets looted during the war, with particular attention paid to the missing memorial for Polish victims of the Third Reich and the perceived asymmetry in funding for Polish education in Germany.
Mularczyk presented a concise report detailing war losses and reparations, arguing that Germany bears responsibility for the suffering inflicted on Poland. He noted that the participants appeared to be unfamiliar with the depth of the losses, but suggested that the prepared overview offered a clear, synthesized picture of German wartime crimes and the scale of Polish losses. He believed the briefing left a strong impression on the German lawmakers.
The deputy minister recalled that the German participants suggested Germany should provide compensation to living survivors of World War II. He stated that such a step should come first in the process of reconciliation and remedy. The German attendees, Ziemiak and Slawik, showed particular interest in the scope of looted cultural property and the possibility of cooperation in recovering stolen artworks. Wundrak also raised the issue of looted property belonging to the Union of Poles in Germany, with MPs expressing curiosity about this matter as well.
During the discussion, Mularczyk informed his German counterparts that on May 10 the Constitutional Court would review provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure related to the immunity of foreign states in cases arising from damages linked to war crimes. He stressed the potential for pending lawsuits against the German state if such immunities were found not to apply in these cases.
The conversation was not easy. It covered historically difficult topics that, according to Mularczyk, did not sit well with the German side. He emphasized that the memory policy in Poland leaves much to be desired and that gestures such as historical apologies or acts of reconciliation cannot replace proper reparations. The exchange drew strong responses from some participants, including an SPD member who drew attention to Willy Brandt’s reconciliation gestures in Warsaw in 1970 at the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes.
Mularczyk reiterated his position that the meeting in the Bundestag would take place again on May 22. He expressed willingness to present the German side with a list of living World War II victims as a practical step in advancing discussions. During the two-day visit, the German delegation also met in Warsaw with senior Polish officials and lawmakers, including the Minister of the European Union, the Vice-President of the Sejm, and the President of the Senate, underscoring the broader scope of interactions between the two countries on this issue.
The exchange took place during a broader visit in which German representatives engaged with Polish leaders and institutions, highlighting ongoing efforts to address historical grievances, promote cross-border dialogue, and explore avenues for cooperation in safeguarding memory, preserving cultural heritage, and supporting those affected by wartime events.