Perception of Polish Statements on War Reparations from the Federal Republic of Germany in Russian Electronic Media (July 2017 — August 2018)

The presented study examines the perception and assessment of Polish claims for war reparations from the Federal Republic of Germany by the Russian society as represented in electronic media in July 2017 — August 2018.

Aim. The study aims to examine the opinion of Russian citizens on this issue and to assess their attitude toward any attempts to reconsider international agreements reached after World War II. Tasks. The authors review electronic media that address the issue of Poland’s claims for reparations from Germany; assess the trends and the prevailing opinion among the Russian society on this issue; analyze the opinion of Russian citizens and based on the obtained results predict the perception of the potential Polish claims for reparations from Russia for the damage dealt to Poland during military action in its territory in 1941-1945.

Methods. This study uses the methods of structural and statistical analysis as well as social forecasting of the impact of information published in electronic media on the public opinion of a neighboring country.

Results. Active discussion of Poland’s claims for reparations from Germany in electronic media was rather limited in scope. The interest in this topic was incidental, as evidenced by the level of meme reactions. The predominant reaction of Russian citizens to Poland’s demands for reconsidering international agreements reached after World War II as well as earlier agreements lies in the negative-indifferent spectrum. This study makes predictions and assumptions about how Russia’s official representatives may perceive the potential measures that may be taken by Poland in terms of any economic claims to Russia with regard to reparations for the war of 1941-1945.

Conclusions. The public opinion expressed in electronic media is reflected in the position of the country’s official representatives and fully corresponds with it. Russia’s public authorities appear to be uninterested in Poland receiving reparations from Germany, do not consider it to be a subject for discussion, and exclude the possibility of claims and demands to Russia in the context of this issue. The general tone of comments based on historical facts in the Russian media can be described as calm. At the same time, comments are not without sarcasm and criticism of Poland’s foreign policy.

1. Goralski W., ed. Problem of reparations, compensation and benefits in Polish-German relations 1944-2004. Vol. 1: Studies. Warsaw: Polski Instytut Spraw Miqdzynarodowych; 2004:427. (In Polish).

2. Dqbski S., Goralski W., eds. Problem of reparations, compensation and benefits in Polish-German relations 1944-2004. Vol. 2: Documents. Warsaw: Polski Instytut Spraw Miqdzynarodowych; 2004:621. (In Polish).

3. Barcz J., Kranz J. Reparations from Germany after the Second World War in the light of international law: Practical and legal aspects. Warsaw: Dom Wydawniczy ELIPSA; 2019. 384 p. (In Polish).

4. Gretskii I. Where will the German reparations lead Poland. Kommersant. 29 Aug. 2017. URL: https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3396824 (In Russ.).

5. Czaplinski W. Reparations from Russia rather than Germany. Parliament’s resolution as the biggest legislative dud of the year. Rzeczpospolita. 15 Sept. 2004:5. (In Polish).

6. Czaplinski W. In a dispute about law, historical or moral reasons are irrelevant. We all yearn for a certain moral order. There must be some established values also in politics and law on which we build this order. Rzeczpospolita. 28 Sept. 2004:3. (In Polish).

7. Hambura S. War reparations in Polish-German relations. URL: http://biurose.sejm.gov.pl/tek-sty_pdf_04/e-302.pdf (accessed on 28.02.2019). (In Polish).

8. Barcz J. Poland’s participation in the Two Plus Four Conference. Legal and procedural aspects. Warsaw: Polski Instytut Spraw Miqdzynarodowych; 1994:196. (In Polish).

9. Klafkowski A. Potsdam Agreement dated 2 August 1945. Warsaw: Wydawnictwo PAX; 1960:630 (In Polish).

10. Is this a breakthrough in the matter of reparations? A PiS MP reveals a 1969 UN document. URL: https://www.wprost.pl/kraj/10078373/To-przelom-w-sprawie-reparacji-Posel-PiS-ujawnia-dokument-ONZ-z-1969-roku.html (accessed on 28.02.2019). (In Polish).

11. Michalkiewicz sought a contract from 1960 between the PRL and the USA. URL: https://www.salon24.pl/u/prowincjusz/232183,michalkiewicz-wyszperal-umowe-z-1960-r-miedzy-prl-a-usa (accessed on 28.02.2019). (In Polish).

12. Kireev V. Why did Poland think of reparations? Vzglyad. 25 Aug. 2017. URL: https://vz.ru/opinions/2017/8/25/884310.html (accessed on 28.02.2019). (In Russ.).

13. Kosachev called the true reason for the statements of Poland on reparations. Rambler. 25 Aug. 2017. URL: https://news.rambler.ru/politics/37738294 (accessed on 28.02.2019). (In Russ.).

14. Pushkov commented on Poland’s plans to obtain reparations from Germany. Rambler. 25 Aug. 2017. URL: https://news.rambler.ru/politics/37740605 (accessed on 28.02.2019). (In Russ.).

15. Alksnis I. Poland plays a very dangerous game with Germany. Vzglyad. 2 Aug, 2017. URL: https://vz.world/2017/8/2/881218.html (accessed on 28.02.2019). (In Russ.).

16. Expert commented on the request of Poland to expedite the resolution of the issue of reparations. Rt.com. 4 Sept. 2017. URL: https://ru.rt.com/950p (accessed on 28.02.2019). (In Russ.).

17. The issue of reparations to Poland is closed to the German Government. Iz.ru. 2 Aug, 2017. URL: https://iz.ru/627476/2017-08-02/vopros-reparatcii-polshe-zakryt-dlia-pravitelstva-germanii (accessed on 28.02.2019). (In Russ.).

18. Nazarova A. Germany refused to pay additional reparations to Poland. Vzglyad. 8 Sept. 2017. URL: https://vz.ru/news/2017/9Z8/886293.html (accessed on 23.02.2019). (In Russ.).

19. Poland expects war reparations from Germany. TASS. 1 Aug. 2017. URL: https://tass.ru/mezh-dunarodnaya-panorama/4455563 (accessed on 23.02.2019). (In Russ.).

20. The Polish government intends to demand reparation from Germany. DW. com. 2 Aug. 2017. URL: https://p.dw.com/p/2heEc (accessed on 23.02.2019). (In Russ.).

21. Gur’yanov S. Poland declared the responsibility of the USSR for the Holocaust. Vzglyad. 19 Sept. 2017. URL: https://vz.ru/news/2017/9/19/887696.html (accessed on 23.02.2019). (In Russ.).

22. Voting. Is Poland’s demand for reparations from Germany fair? TV Tsentr. 30 Aug. 2017. URL: https:Zwww.tvc.ru/news/show/id/122822 (accessed on 23.02.2019). (In Russ.).

23. Opinion: Poland starts a game, not really hoping for a reparation. Radio Sputnik. 25 Aug. 2017. URL: https://radiosputnik.ria.ru/20170825/1501064896.html (accessed on 23.02.2019). (In Russ.).

24. Filatova I., Shimanskii V. Poland’s demands for Germany to pay reparations sound more serious. DW.com. 25 Aug. 2017. URL: https://p.dw.com/p/2hieF (accessed on 23.02.2019). (In Russ.).

25. Nazarova A. In Poland, they expressed a desire to receive reparations from Germany. Vzglyad. 2 Aug. 2017. URL: https://vz.ru/news/2017/8/2/881191.html (accessed on 23.02.2019). (In Russ.).

26. Dubov G. Poland reduced reparation claims against Germany by $ 300 billion. RBC. 23 March 2018. URL: https://www.rbc.ru/politics/23/03/2018/5ab45bce9a7947ac5037fd4b (accessed on 23.02.2019) . (In Russ.).

27. Gur’yanov S. Warsaw stated the need to analyze the issue of reparations from Russia and Germany. Vzglyad. 4 Sept. 2017. URL: https://vz.ru/news/2017/9/4/885572.html (accessed on 23.02.2019). (In Russ.).

28. Requirements for Germany to pay war reparations to Poland remain in force. Polskie Radio — Redakcja Rosyjska. 18 Jan. 2018.URL: http://archiwum.radiopolsha.pl/6/136/Artykul/344985 (accessed on 23.02.2019). (In Russ.).

29. Poland requires reparations of trillions zloty from the Russian Federation. Voennoe obozrenie. 22 Aug. 2017.URL: https://topwar.ru/123095-v-polshe/trebuyut-ot-rf-reparaciy-v-trilliony-zolotyh.html (accessed on 23.02.2019). (In Russ.).

30. Gur’yanov S. Polish ambassador to Ukraine complains about reparations taken by the Soviet Union. Vzglyad. 11 Dec. 2017. URL: https://rn.vz.ru/news/2017/12/11/899067.html (accessed on 23.02.2019) . (In Russ.).