Outrage after Polish prime minister rebuffs Jewish calls for compensation
Mateusz Morawiecki says restitution for property seized during World War 2 would be a posthumous victory for Adolf Hitler
Warsaw — Poland’s prime minister has outraged the Jewish community by saying compensation for property seized during World War 2 would represent a posthumous triumph for Adolf Hitler. The ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) argues that as a victim of invasion and occupation by Nazi Germany in the 1939-1945 war, Poland should not be saddled with financial obligations in providing restitution payments to Jews. “If it ever got to this point, to this horrible injustice, if the victim and the executioner switched places, it would be an abuse of all of the basic principles of international law and would also be Hitler’s posthumous victory,” Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Friday. Poland was home to one of the world’s biggest Jewish communities before it was almost entirely wiped out by the Nazis who set up notorious death camps such as Auschwitz. World Jewish Congress president Ronald S Lauder called for the prime minister to deny or retract his comments, calling them “ala...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.