Just a day after German President Joachim Gauck shocked his government by remarking in an interview [7] that Germany should at least "consider" demands by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras that the nation pay billions of euros in reparations for the Nazi occupation of Greece, ekathimerini reports [8] that none other than 'helpful' Russians are willing to provide assistance in the World War II claims investigation.
Following recent comments by German President Joachim Gauck that, [7]
“We are not only people who are living in this day and age but we’re also the descendants of those who left behind a trail of destruction in Europe during World War Two — in Greece, among other places, where we shamefully knew little about it for so long,” Gauck said in an interview with German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung.
“It’s the right thing to do for a history-conscious country like ours to consider what possibilities there might be for reparations.”
While he only went as far as to suggest “consideration” of the demand, this is further than the direct rejections other high-ranking German officials have issued. As Reuters recalls, the last time a German official mentioned the reparations demand, it was economic minister Sigmar Gabriel, who proclaimed them “stupid.”
And now, as ekathimerini reports, [8]it appears the Greeks are getting some assistance...
Moscow is helping Greece in its investigation into possible Second World War reparations from Germany by providing access to previously unused archives.
Following a request by Alternate Defense Minister Costas Isichos, the Russian Embassy in Athens has provided Greek authorities with a list of the relevant archives, including documents, photographs and documentary footage.
Moscow’s move comes as the National Council for WWII Reparations from Germany has stepped up efforts to inform Greeks about its work. The group has put on display videos and posters explaining its work at 100 locations in Athens metro stations.
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Perhaps Putin is working on commission? 20% finders fee of the €278.7 billion that Greece believes it is owed for helping to gather the money from the Germans? [9]
