"Polish Memorial and Interaction Center Proposal by Foreign Minister Heiko Maas Unveiled in Berlin"
The path of German-Polish reconciliation has taken a significant step forward with the announcement of a new site in Berlin, dedicated to remembrance and encounter. This initiative, a core content of the concept submitted by Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, is expected to contribute to the deepening of good neighborly relations between the two countries.
The concept for this site was developed under the leadership of the Federal Foreign Office and was presented on September 15, 2021, in Berlin. It aims to facilitate encounters between Germans, Poles, and their European neighbours, and is considered the foundation of a shared path into the future for both nations.
The site's creation comes as a response to the long-standing acknowledgement that for a long time, the suffering of Poland's civilian population was only a small part of Germany's memory of World War II. The site is intended to focus on joint remembrance and the mediation of historical knowledge.
The war of annihilation in Central and Eastern Europe, led by the Nazi racial ideology, caused untold suffering to Poland's people. Whole cities were destroyed, populations were resettled, and mass shootings were carried out during the war. It is crucial that this dark chapter in history is not forgotten, and that the site serves as a reminder of the atrocities committed.
The site is designed to be historically oriented and forward-looking, with the aim of fostering dialogue and understanding between the two nations. The concept contains ten concrete recommendations for the planning and construction of a memorial and meeting place, which are yet to be revealed in the autumn of the new legislative period.
The development of the concept was supported by a German-Polish expert commission and a political advisory board. Last year, the Bundestag took a groundbreaking step with its resolution for a place of remembrance and encounter with Poland. On October 30, 2020, the German Bundestag decided to create a prominent site in Berlin dedicated to the Polish victims of World War II and the Nazi occupation of Poland.
The site is seen as a milestone in German-Polish reconciliation, and it is important to remember that Germany bears full responsibility for the crimes committed during the war in its name and by its hands. The available search results do not provide specific details about the ten concrete recommendations from the concept paper, but they can be found on the Foreign Office's website.
World War II began with Germany's invasion of Poland in September 1939. The new site of remembrance and encounter in Berlin serves as a powerful reminder of the past, and a beacon of hope for a brighter, more peaceful future for Germany and Poland.
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