German Parliament advocates for a permanent memorial honoring Polish war victims

The German Bundestag has moved forward with plans to establish a permanent memorial honoring Polish victims of the Second World War. A motion, approved by a significant majority, urges the federal government to promptly begin the process of designing and constructing the memorial in Berlin, replacing the temporary commemorative stone that was unveiled in June.

Additionally, the motion calls for identifying a central location in Berlin to host a German-Polish House, intended as a space for education and cultural exchange.

For the past six months, a provisional memorial has stood on the site of the former Kroll Opera House in Berlin-Tiergarten. This location holds historical significance: on September 1, 1939, Adolf Hitler delivered a propaganda address at the opera house announcing the invasion of Poland, an event that marked the start of the Second World War.

During the Nazi occupation, Poland suffered immense losses, with over five million citizens perishing. According to Ottilie Klein, spokesperson for cultural policy for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, establishing a permanent, respectful memorial would allow Germany to honor its historical responsibility and demonstrate that it has acknowledged the lessons of its past.

Author: Ethan Caldwell