At Wednesday’s (June 26) meeting, the German government approved the proposal to erect the Polish-German House proposed by the Minister of Culture, Claudia Roth. It will now be discussed in the German parliament.
The Polish-German House (das Deutsch-Polnische Haus) is intended to be primarily a place of commemoration of over 5 million Polish victims of the war and German occupation between 1939 and 1945. It will also be a place of information and historical education, covering not only the period of World War II but also – as we read in the assumptions – „the centuries-old neighbour relations of both countries”.
The facility is to be built in the centre of Berlin. Minister Roth, responsible for culture and media in the government, is conducting talks with the Berlin authorities regarding the location.
The concept has evolved from the very beginning: from a classic monument to the victims to a monument-institution with a broader meaning. The originators of the monument claim that a broader concept will delay the implementation of their plan.
“The proposal to build a German-Polish house in the heart of the capital, approved today, is an important signal for the further strengthening and deepening of German-Polish relations. This strengthens the memory of the common future of Germany and Poland as close partners in a strong, united Europe”, said Roth, presenting the project.
A controversial project?
The potential problems with the idea of a monument-institution were raised by the Polish Centre For Eastern Studies think tank.
“The current concept of the House raises many controversies and doubts. The German initiators of the original idea of a monument to Polish victims themselves raise fundamental reservations – they call for separating the issue of the monument and commemoration of the victims from the issue of the museum and educational centre. These objections are justified because building a museum in Germany is a multi-year undertaking involving huge logistical and financial challenges,” the think-tank says in an article on its website.
“What is most worrying, however, is that the current concept, the way it is presented and the authors’ statements result in a belief in the uniqueness of the project and the superiority of the German culture of remembrance over other manifestations of commemorating the victims. This may lead to the argument that the construction of the House is an initiative that replaces all other important historical activities in relations with Poland, including compensation for war losses. At the same time, contrary to assurances, this is not a bilateral project, but a completely German one – both in terms of content, finances, selection of experts, and the method of commemoration,” the statement adds.
Tomasz Modrzejewski
Photo: X/@BundesKultur
Source: DW Polski, OSW
