Roderich Kiesewetter, a longtime CDU member of the Bundestag involved in shaping Berlin’s foreign policy, told the Polish Press Agency (PAP) that while mental and physical trauma can never be repaid, survivors of the Holocaust and atrocities “targeted at the Polish nation” should receive financial redress. He said Germany’s long delay had bred “enormous distrust.”
Kiesewetter called the reparations issue “very complicated and sensitive,” arguing it stirs right-wing claims in Germany.
He said the 1990 “2+4” treaty provided the legal framework that excluded further reparations claims and warned that making an exception for one country would reopen the entire debate.
Poland’s demand of about EUR 1.3 trillion was “unbearable,” he said.
The lawmaker nonetheless framed the matter as “also moral,” criticizing Germany’s “extremely arrogant behavior toward Poland” over their shared past.
“We said: ‘We have treaties, we did this and that, so now please be quiet.’ That was ignorance and hubris,” he said, noting millions of Poles were killed or traumatized and Poland’s elites were targeted.
As part of historical atonement, Germany could assume costs for Poland’s air defense, he suggested, but only by “listening to Polish expectations” rather than imposing solutions. He welcomed talk of reviving the Weimar Triangle but said it had not been followed by action, adding that Poland deserves “much more engagement and respect” from Germany.
Kiesewetter recalled that in March 2022 Warsaw sought guarantees from Berlin for several hundred Leopard 2 tanks to replace Polish T-72s sent to Ukraine. He said Germany only replied in July that “Poland can get about 20 Leopards,” one reason he believes Warsaw turned to South Korean arms contracts.
He told PAP he saw scope to deepen cooperation with Poland on Baltic Sea patrols and protection of undersea infrastructure, pointing to German-Dutch efforts as an example. Germany should “learn from Poland” on defense spending, he said, noting Poland spends nearly 5% of GDP while Germany spends under 2%.
Calling Nord Stream 1 and 2 a “huge mistake” that bypassed neighbors and endangered Ukraine and EU energy policy, Kiesewetter said Germany needs a parliamentary inquiry into ties with Russia. He said he suspects Russia blew up the pipelines and described the “Andromeda” yacht narrative as a “false-flag operation,” citing corporate links and individuals he said have Ukrainian and Russian passports.
Kiesewetter said an Alternative for Germany (AfD) rise to power would mean quitting NATO, the EU and the euro zone, and a return to a pro-Russian course. He criticized AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla as “completely incompetent.”
He portrayed the United States as moving away from Europe, recounting remarks he attributed to senior U.S. figures and asserting that Washington has reduced capabilities and halted some shipments to Mediterranean ports and other bases.
“These are not the United States we need,” he said, warning that if Europe does not shoulder more burdens and buy more U.S. equipment, it will fall to a lower tier of allies.
Russia “does not feel pressure,” he said, arguing Moscow’s goals remain the removal of former Warsaw Pact states from NATO and the withdrawal of the U.S. from Europe. He feared further aggression, territorial gains, refugee flows and rising social discontent, adding: “Russia is on the way to victory, but this can be reversed.”
To do so, Europe must increase aid so Ukraine wins and Russia withdraws, Kiesewetter said. He called for the “mental capitulation of Russia as an imperial and colonial power,” recognition of neighbors’ right to exist, and the deployment of European troops to western Ukraine to take over air defense there.
He criticized Germany’s response after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Zeitenwende speech as having “weakened,” citing talks with President Vladimir Putin and nuclear threats. He acknowledged “strong ties with Moscow” in both the CDU and SPD, calling the policy of leaving the door open to Russia “strategic blindness.”
(jh)
Source: PAP