Germany asks for Poland’s forgiveness for Nazi crimes

Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN (AA) – Germany has asked Poland for forgiveness for the Nazi crimes committed during the World War II.

Participating at an event marking the 75th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas recognized his country’s moral responsibility, for Nazi wartime atrocities, but ruled out any financial reparations.

"I'm ashamed of what was done to your country by Germans and in the German name. And I am ashamed that this debt was kept secret for far too long after the War,” he said.

Addressing a joint press conference with his Polish counterpart Jacek Czaputowicz at the Warsaw Uprising Museum in the Polish capital, Maas also expressed support for building a memorial in Berlin to commemorate the Polish victims.

Even as Maas ruled out financial compensation, Polish Foreign Minister said that a parliamentary team is assessing the cost of damages to the Polish citizens during the War.

“The parliamentary assessment would be part of future discussions,” he said.

In a bid to free the city, Polish fighters rose up against Nazi occupation on August 1, 1944.

Some 18,000 fighters and 200,000 civilians were killed by Nazi forces during a 63-day struggle in Warsaw. Hundreds of thousands were deported to concentration camps.

According to an estimate, 6 million Polish citizens perished during the War.