Germany rejected Greece's claim for World War II reparations on Wednesday, March 20. Alexis Tsipras, the leftist Prime Minister of Greece, accused the German government of using legal tricks to evade paying reparations for the Nazi occupation of Greece during World War II. According to Reuters, reviving one of the hot issues in the history of the two countries could negatively impact bilateral relations and Greece's efforts to convince Eurozone countries to extend the repayment deadline for its €240 billion debt. A statement from a Greek official has intensified this debate. The Greek Minister of Justice stated he is ready to confirm and execute an old court ruling for the seizure of German assets as compensation for the massacre of 218 Greeks in the village of Distomo. Germany considers this matter to be resolved. Officials from Germany stated on Wednesday that Germany has fulfilled its obligations and paid Greece 115 million German marks in 1960. Steffen Seibert, spokesperson for Chancellor Angela Merkel, said on Wednesday: 'We firmly believe that the issue of reparations has been resolved legally and politically.' He added that this matter does not affect discussions among Eurozone countries regarding Greece's debts, stating: 'We should focus on current issues and what creates a good future.' Nevertheless, some German media have highlighted the issue of Greece's debts as a reason for the deterioration of relations between the two countries. 'Bild,' a popular and bestselling German newspaper critical of Greece's inability to implement economic reforms, headlined: 'Greece demands several billion for Nazi crimes.' Some German politicians have also expressed their anger over this issue. A conservative politician from Bavaria stated: 'This matter has been closed since the 1950s. If Greece attacks German assets, Germany knows how to defend itself.' Reuters further reports that the Greek resentment over Nazi German crimes is very deep, and the media in Greece has often reflected this resentment by depicting Angela Merkel and the German Minister of Economy in Nazi uniforms. Nazi German soldiers destroyed hundreds of Greek villages and killed over 20,000 Greeks between 1941 and 1944. Germany claims that the so-called 'Two Plus Four Agreement,' signed in 1990 by the then West and East German governments and the four Allied countries in World War II, ended any future claims on this matter. However, some Germans disagree with this view. Antje Groth, a leader of the Left Party in Germany, stated that the German government should consider and respect the €11 billion related to the 'occupation loan' that Nazi Germany forcibly imposed on the Bank of Greece. She told Reuters: 'Even if there are disagreements about international law, paying this money is a moral obligation for Germany.'
Greece Threatens to Seize German Assets as WWII Reparations
Greece has renewed its demand for WWII reparations from Germany, accusing Berlin of evading its responsibilities. This issue could strain bilateral relations and affect Greece's negotiations regarding its significant debt. The German government maintains that the reparations issue was resolved decades ago.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Greece has renewed its demand for World War II reparations from Germany, accusing Berlin of evading its responsibilities. Germany has rejected these claims, stating that the issue was resolved decades ago.
- Greece's Minister of Justice is prepared to act on a court ruling to seize German assets for reparations.
- Germany claims it fulfilled its obligations with a payment made in 1960.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Greece suffered significant atrocities during the Nazi occupation in WWII, leading to ongoing debates about reparations. Germany maintains that reparations were settled in previous agreements.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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