"Our goal is a permanent and visible sign in the center of Berlin commemorating the suffering of Poles under German occupation," Baerbock declared on Sunday.
Baerbock emphasized the urgency of the project, noting that progress has been too slow. "To be honest, we have already lost too much time," she said, stressing the dwindling number of living witnesses to the horrors of that era, such as former Polish Foreign Minister and Auschwitz survivor Władysław Bartoszewski, who played a key role in Polish-German reconciliation.
The plan to establish this Place of Remembrance and Meetings in Berlin was approved by the Bundestag in 2020. In June 2023, the project, now known as the Polish-German House, received the German government's backing. However, before work can begin, a further discussion in the German parliament is required, which is expected to occur later this year or in early 2025.
Baerbock highlighted the deep connection between Poland and Germany, forged through both the immense suffering caused by German crimes during the war and the shared struggle for freedom. She pointed out that today, the two nations are united in their efforts to ensure the security of Europe and support Ukraine.
"Our solidarity is not a gift, but an expression of respect for what others have done for us," Baerbock said, underlining the importance of remembering these events in Berlin, where the atrocities of World War II were planned and initiated.
She also acknowledged that German awareness of the events of September 1, 1939, and their aftermath remains insufficient, and stressed the need for greater understanding of this painful chapter in Polish history.
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Source: PAP