The President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke at the official commemoration of the Warsaw Uprising in Poland. During his speech, he praised the Polish combatants and expressed his sorrow over German atrocities in Poland during the 2 World War. 

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke at the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising, at the invitation of President Andrzej Dude. Among those listening to the speech were 90-year-old combatants of the Warsaw Uprising. 

“I say these words in all seriousness, I ask for forgiveness right now and right here. German nationalism, imperialism and racism led to these crimes against which the Polish people defended themselves in the Warsaw Rising. This must never happen again,” President Steinmeier said.

“The Polish people have never and will never forget the Warsaw Uprising. And we Germans, on whose behalf I am speaking today, must not forget the uprising. We must not forget and we will not forget what suffering we have brought upon our neighbouring country, ” the German president added.

“We will not forget the brutality, with what lust for destruction the German occupiers fell on the entire population after the invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 and then ravaged this country, its cities and villages,” the President said.

German President spoke about reconciliation and rapprochement between the two countries that has taken place is “almost a miracle for which we can be grateful”. 

“But reconciliation and good neighbour relations did not fall from the sky and will not continue to fall from the sky. I know that it was not only the fight against the German occupiers that required courage, also the history of reconciliation with Germany required courage,” he stressed.

The Polish President, Andrzej Duda, also spoke about the bravery of Polish soldiers in the Uprising: 

“Because the Warsaw Uprising was not only started to defeat the Germans, the occupiers, to finally regain the capital after years of oppression, murder, terror, after years of round-ups and shootings in the streets, (…) to take revenge for the deaths of loved ones, for the suffering, but above all to regain full independence.”

“The Warsaw Uprising is the moral basis of our independence,” President Duda said. 

The ceremony began the official commemoration of the Warsaw Uprising that will continue for the next days, and finally close on October 3. The most important part of the observations will start on 1 August at 5 p.m. with the famous “W hour” signal. 

Tomasz Modrzejewski

Photos: British Poles