People & Politics | 60 Years of German-Polish Relations

German-Polish relations have a long and complicated history,overshadowed by Germany's invasion in 1939,the Holocaust and the expulsion of Germans from former German territory after the war. These days relations have improved despite a number of nagging tensions. People and Politics talks to two experts on German-Polish relations: Egon Bahr,architect of Willy Brandt's Ostpolitik ,and Janocz Reiter,Poland's ambassador to Germany from 1990 to 1995.

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[ruzzaruzza]

I mean Germany and Poland are quite big countries. After the WWII part of Poland was taken by Soviets and as a "gift" they gave a part of Germany (inhabited by 12 mil. people) to Poles. I don´t think that anybody asked either Germany or Poland if they agree with it. Almost all countries "freed" by Soviets became communist and all countires freed by the U.S. became democratic.

Now, do you see my point?

[ruzzaruzza]

The problem is that geographically or economically small nations are just puppets in the game of the world superpowers or their bigger nationes. We don´t even have one common approach to our history here in Europe. In the eyes of one nation certain king or general is a hero, in the eyes of their neighbour he is a mass-murder. Who´s right then?

[iLowGasPricesx]

3:28 - 3:40 funniest bit.

[realdealforsure]

@EsqDave with the final annihilation of German nation....

[realdealforsure]

@kantonerei said Adolf and pulled the triger

[Satmae]

@kantonerei

You are wrong german is not german its Prussian if u wish to look at german country look at austria swiss or lichtenstein. None of those lands were ever 'german' - prussian - ur land was called West Prussia. You were never kingdom and was never seen as proper state - prussians invaded states from fallen holy roman empire and putted their own Duke *u never had a king. In history Prussia was equal to Russia under Catharine - basically no right to rule - germany was created to fix that

[Satmae]

I guess poles wanted to be much closer to west and much further away from russia and presented some old branderburg and saxony(including prussia homage) agreements and intermarriages which helped the move away from russia

[adgw1423]

Poland certainly was moved quite far West from its traditional territory (look at a map of Poland post WWI) However, one can understand the feeling post WWII to try and prevent further German aggression. The tens of millions of Germans forcibly moved out of E. Europe is a largely untold story, and millions died. We all certainly recognize the suffering of the Poles in WW2. Simply put, this was a nasty situation all around. We are in a new century, and best wishes for a new era of friendship

[kantonerei]

Silesia, Pomerania and East Prussia are German!!!

[Alsterwasser]

@lipaization No, I'm not stupid at all.

[lipaization]

@Alsterwasser Yea you are stupid or ...

[POLAK1Nysa]

@Alsterwasser territory has been exchanged many times, among different states. They are 100% Polish now. True many germans lived there, but lose a war and do not complain! I have nothing against Germans at all. I have been there, people are very nice. Poland borders not only moved west but east too, so we lost cities too. It was not a decision made by Poles or Poland at all. What you talk about is the past, better to leave it just like Poles who talk lviv/lwow, vilnius/wilno.