The European Jewish Congress has called comments by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki saying that to pay restitution to Jews who survived the Holocaust would equate to “Hitler’s victory after his death” a major distortion.
“Over seventy years ago, Polish Jewry had their property and assets stolen from them,” the European Jewish Congress said. “These assets, regardless of time, are still stolen as a result of the Holocaust. Prime Minister Morawiecki’s comments are the opposite of reality because Hitler’s posthumous victory is that these properties and assets have never been returned to their rightful heirs.”
“This is not just a theft of property; it is also a theft of history.” The EJC added. “Restitution of Jewish owned property is about fundamental rights and rectifying a historic injustice.”
“Poland remains the only major country in Eastern Europe that has taken no action to return private property confiscated by the Nazis or nationalized by the communist regime, and it is time that the Polish Government dealt with the reality, international law and justice rather than use the issue of restitution as a campaign talking point.”