Poland’s new estimate tops the $850 billion estimate by ruling party lawmakers from 2019. The ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has sought reparations several times since coming to power in 2015, but Poland has not officially demanded any.
“The amount offered was taken using the most restrictive and conservative methods and it is possible to increase it,” said Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of Law and Justice (PiS). said at a press conference.
The belligerent stance against Germany, which PiS often uses to mobilize voters, has strained relations with Berlin. It intensified after Russia invaded Ukraine, amid criticism of Berlin’s dependence on Russian gas and the slowness of aid to Kyiv.
About 6 million Poles were killed during the war, including 3 million Polish Jews, and Warsaw was devastated after the 1944 riots that killed about 200,000 civilians. rice field.
The German government and foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In 1953, the rulers of then-communist Poland renounced all war reparations claims under pressure from the Soviet Union, which wanted to relieve its satellite state, East Germany, of all responsibility. PiS says the deal is void because Poland failed to negotiate fair compensation.
Donald Tusk, leader of Poland’s largest opposition party, the Civic Platform, said on Thursday that Kaczynski’s announcement was “not about reparations.”
“This is about an internal political campaign to rebuild support for the ruling party,” he said.
PiS still leads in most polls, but its dominance over the Civic Platform has waned in recent months as it has been criticized for handling soaring inflation and an economic slowdown.
