In Poland, descendants of two victims of Nazism are demanding compensation from Bayer and Henschel companies. During World War II, Tadeusz Sledzinski was forcibly sent to a labour camp owned by Bayer's subsidiary, while Leopold Wellisch's enterprise was seized by Henschel. Their descendants are seeking 4.3 million euros.
Monika Bjozovska-Paseka, a lawyer from the "Defenders of Defenders" foundation, said:
"Tadeusz Sledzinski earned $233 before the war. He was an excellent engineer with 29 patents. Leopold Wellisch was a wealthy financier, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. We calculate the compensation based on accurate data, that is, the amount they would have received if not for the war. We believe that in such situations, when someone benefited from someone else's harm, compensation should be paid. That is justice."
This private lawsuit comes amidst ongoing official demands for reparations that the Polish government has presented to Berlin. Warsaw is seeking approximately 1.3 trillion euros, appealing for support from the United States and the United Nations.
Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, stated:
"Our actions primarily serve an informative and diplomatic purpose. We are trying to engage international organisations and foreign partners in addressing the issue of injustice after World War II towards different countries, the asymmetrical treatment of Germans, different nations, and countries. We point out that this violates elementary principles of international law, the supremacy of law, and human rights."
Germany has acknowledged the information about the new litigation but declined to comment. The German Embassy in Poland has stated that the position of the German federal government remains unchanged and, in Berlin's opinion, this issue is closed"since the Polish People's Republic renounced all outstanding reparations in 1953.
However, Poland does not recognize this position, asserting that the decision in 1953 was made under pressure from the USSR. Nevertheless, both sides have remained steadfast in their positions for many years, despite strong statements from some Polish politicians.
Lukasz Jasinski, Polish Institute of International Affairs, remarked:
"The legacy of World War II weighs heavily on Polish-German relations and will likely continue to do so in the coming decades. There are concerns about setting a precedent. If the Germans were to say that they would pay reparations to Poland, either in full or in part, then other countries would almost certainly join the queue."
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