Germans demand compensation from Poland over war losses (see pictures)

Irish Examiner ^ | 15/12/2006

[lizol]

Germans demand compensation from Poland over war losses

A German group has filed claims against Poland with a European court over property lost in the aftermath of World War II, a member said today.

The Prussian Claims Society, which represents some Germans who were expelled from Poland after the war ended, filed the complaint with the European Court of Human Rights, the society’s deputy leader Gerwald Stanko said.

“Twenty-two individual complaints have gone to the European Court of Human Rights,” Stanko said. He said the aim was to secure either compensation or the return of property.

The Prussian Claims Society has threatened for several years to file restitution claims for property lost when the borders of Germany and Poland were moved westward after World War II.

The threat has weighed on relations between Warsaw and Berlin.

The German government has made it clear that it does not support the claims, but the topic is extremely sensitive in Poland, which Nazi Germany invaded in 1939 at the start of World War II and subjected to a brutal occupation.

The German government had no immediate response to the group’s move.

[lizol]

Hmmmm...

War losses you're saying?

Hmmm...

Compensations?

Hmmm...

Here you can see some pictures from my Polish town of Lowicz before the WW2 and during the war, or right after.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION - THERE WERE NO MILITARY INSTALATIONS IN, NEITHER AROUND THE TOWN IN 1939!

Old Jewish synagogue – before WW2,

And “renovated” by the Germans - first burnt down, then demolished (doesn’t exist anymore)

Train station building – before the war

And “renovated” by the Germans

Old Square and the former high school building – before the war

And “renovated” by the Germans

New Square before the war

And “renovated” by the Germans

Saint Leonard church (the oldest one in the town) – before the war

And “renovated” by the Germans

The cathedral – before the war

And “renovated” by the Germans (burnt down)

German tourists entering burning Lowicz in 1939

Saint Thadeus Hospital building (bombed by the Luftwaffe in 1939, regardless the fact, that large red cross was displayed on the roof; most of the patients, who couldn’t walk – got burnt alive)

John the Baptist church (doesn’t exist anymore, used to be located right next to the hospital)

It’s also worth mentioning, that 11.000 of people living in the Lowicz county (out of the total number around 50.000 at that time) were murdered by the Nazi

Indeed – it’s nothing but a pure impudence from the Polish side, that we don’t want to pay compensations to the Germans over their war losses.

[lizol]

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[Gay State Conservative]

Well,I now know that what I've been hearing my entire life was wrong....

The Germans really *do* have a sense of humor!!!!!

[LibWhacker]

Ridiculous. Totally frivolous. The Krauts don't have a legal leg to stand on. Where do they think they are, America?

[Kurt_D]

Of course you know that what constitutes most of today's Poland has been German territories for over thousand years... until 1945. Little history never hurts.

In any case, Germany lost the war. That should settle the debate.

[Darksheare]

Now if this had been NY invading NJ and them losing terribly only to bring a lawsuit against NJ for compensation, it would give me pause since in NY and NJ the judges have a twilight zone sense of 'fairness' and justice.

And good on Poland for giving the suit a thumbed nose.

[Bahbah]

You make your point very well.

[dfwgator]

Of course you know that what constitutes most of today's Poland has been German territories for over thousand years... until 1945. Little history never hurts.

And you know before that it was Polish. Little history never hurts.

Besides, take it up with Uncle Joe, it was his call, not the Poles.

[XR7]

Do you suppose the plaintiffs retained a good Jewish lawyer?

[starbase]

Well, let's remember, it's not "The Germans" who are demanding compensation, just one group of people. They could be fringe wackos.

If some wacko group from the US "demanded" that Japan give us Okinawa, it wouldn't be appropriate to title the article "America Demands Ownership of Okinawa!"

[Camel Joe]

We have an old and rather crude saying in America, "Fork with the bull and you'll get the horn". I would ask those seeking compensation for their losses if they haven't had enough of the horn already.

[Durus]

You know that's a good point...how can they go after Poland legally?

[lizol]

Over last thousand years some of those territories (Pommerania) used to be Prussian (I mean not the Germans called Prussians, but the Old Prussians - Baltic tribe), then German, then partly Polish, then partly Lithuanian, and then German again.

Some (Silesia) used to be Polish, then Bohemian (Czech), then German, then partly Polish again, then German again.

You're right - little history never hurts. But apply it to yourself.

[Lazamataz]

I'd back Poland over Germany if you two want to fight again.

[piytar]

The Polish government should offer to pay the reparations on the condition that Germany agrees to pay reparations for all losses suffered by Poles in WWII. If the German government agrees, Germany will shortly be bankrupt. If the German government does not agree, they will take the heat from the asshats behind this ridiculous claim for reparations.

Win/win for Poland -- one of our few true allies in Europe against Islamofacism. Lose/lose for Germany, who has increasingly turned on us in that same struggle.

[dfwgator]

Germany already has been compensated for here WWII losses, it was called "The Marshall Plan."

And what did Poland, a member of the victorious Allies get? The Marshall Stalin Plan.

[Spok]

Chutzpah.

[Kurt_D]

...Poland got fu**ed because Truman didn't listen to Churchill.

[brothers4thID]

This is a joke... right?

[Kurt_D]

Well said. Your reasoning is not polluted with collectivism. ;)

[ozzymandus]

The winners not only write the history books, they draw the maps. I would point out that this isn't the German government asking for compensation, it's the desendants of the former residents of the territories taken by Poland and Russia. It's a moot point, however, since they aren't going to get squat.
Since Poland and Germany now have normalized relations, however, wouldn't it be possible for the displaced Germans to buy back their former properties, if the current owners were willing to sell?

[pgkdan]

The Germans are lucky there still IS a Germany at all. This suit is ludicrious...sheer chutzpah. The Plaintiffs should be publicly mocked and ridiculed.

[Kurt_D]

As I said... Germany's defeat settles the debate.

[verbal voter]

what A WONDERFUL POSTING. the BEFORE PICTURES ARE FANTASTIC. Have you visited Poland and seen the high quality of reconstruction? Poland leads Europe in training for rebuilding. Of course the communists, with their confiscation and redistribution, have created real real estate problems for all persons. These Prussians are jerks and deserve nothing.

[1rudeboy]

The Krauts don't have a legal leg to stand on.

Yes, your random "Kraut" does not. But these people might.

[GeorgiaGuy]

Could Poland and Germany both sue Russia for forcing the border westward? Maybe Poland could annex Belarus? That would be better for Belarus, correct?

[burzum]

It is always interesting on how some people can conveniently forget some "very minor" events in history to suit their arguments. Things like Germany invading Poland, decimating the country, and murdering millions of her citizens (many in concentration camps) certainly can't be as important as a couple of farmers in 1945 losing some of their land (much of which was illegally occupied). You just have to put things in perspective I guess.

[Kurt_D]

Well... in all honesty - and as mentioned before somewhere in this thread - Germans, Poles and all Europeans should focus on real issues. Like the rise of Mohammedanism.

[dfwgator]

Funny how you never hear the Germans demanding compensation from Russia for Koningsberg (Kaliningrad).

[lizol]

Not today.

When Poland joined the EU - Polish authorities reserved some time when a special permit is required, if a citizen of a different EU country (including Germany) wants to buy land in Poland.

They will be able to do it after several years, but I don't remember how long exactly.

[Kurt_D]

You don't hear it in the USA... ever heard of the German "Bund der Vertriebenen"? An important organization in Germany that represents the descendants of Germans that fled the Red Army.

[lizol]

Hmmmm..., the German FReepers maintain, that the "Bund der Vertriebenen" doesn't have any meaning at all in Germany, and that the Poles overreact to their actions.

I must say I'm confused (sarcasm)

[outofstyle]

WWII was a brutal vicious war. However, I think all of the participants then, would have laughed at this stupidity now, the German's included. The West has been lawyered into cultural oblivion.

[R.W.Ratikal]

Good! Now Polish citizens who lost relatives in the war because of Germany's ovens, should file Wrongful Death suits against Germany.

[airborne]

Hey Germany!

Don't start nuthin', won't be nuthin'!

[GeorgiaGuy]

No, but you do hear faint rumblings from time to time by Kaliningraders wondering if they should try to restore some relationship with Germany.

[sobieski]

Not if they net it all out. More important, the Kaczynski's won't be cowed by these cows.

[JBCiejka]

Wonderful photos! Thanks.

[wolf78]

Hmmmm..., the German FReepers maintain, that the "Bund der Vertriebenen" doesn't have any meaning at all in Germany, and that the Poles overreact to their actions.

You mean the "Bund der Vertriebenen" that has distanced itself from the "Preussische Treuhand" and has little to do with this lawsuit?

Well, anyway, the Preussische Treuhand has finally done what they've been threatening to do for years: to go before the European Court of Human Rights, where they will get their much deserved a**kicking. They overplayed their cards and will now have to face a reality check.

Other than that it always surprises me how eagerly some come up with anti-German comments without even knowing the slightest bit about the underlying problem. Yeah sure, 22 individuals are "the Krauts", just as NAMBLA speaks for the US and those swastika-wielding drunks from last week for Poland. Barf.

[1rudeboy]

Who's "they?" How would you feel about your private property being "netted out?"

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I see where in a recent poll [no pun intended] Cupernick was voted one of the 50 most important Germans in history, even though the grandparents of today's Germans considered his descendants to be Untermenschen. (Though a canon of the Cathedral at Frombork - or is Frauenberg? - he did have descendants by his housekeeper, much to the chagrin of his bishop.)

Point is, as Henry Ford pointed out, history is more or less bunk. Nursing historical grievances does not serve anyone in the long run. We conservatives cling to the outmoded and abhorrent policy of treating people as individuals rather than the personification of ethnic, sexual or racial stereotypes.

That individual Germans suffered terribly and unjustly as a result of the War is beyond dispute. On average, no group suffered more as a result of the War than Poles, with the exception of European Jews.

Seeking redress for the wrongs of World War II is certainly not a can of worms that the Germans want to open, I assume.

[sageb1]

bookmark

[doc1019]

And a lot of chutzpa!

[kronos77]

Great, they attack you and destroy your country, now they want you to pay them.

[JasonC]

First, resurrect the 50 million killed in WW II. Then we will arrange to give you a shinny new nickel.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

Looks like Poland should be getting compensation from Germany!

[section9]

Germany demands Compensation from Poland?

Uh oh.....

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[kronos77]

NEXT:

Bin laden suing USA for war damage!
fantasy? Democrats!

[MelonFarmerJ]

Ramsey Clark might just take that suit.......