German-Polish Relations
The significance of the German-Polish relationship goes beyond ordinary neighborly relations. It is one of the fundamental pillars of the European Union. In 1991 free Poland and united Germany signed a friendship treaty. It was a historic event, comparable to the signing of the Elysée Treaty that, three decades earlier, finally ended the "hereditary enmity" between Germany and France.
Relations between the two countries were strained after the conservative Law and Justice Party (PiS) took to power in October 2015. Shortly after, the PiS introduced legislation enabling the government to control Poland's court and its public broadcasters. In December 2015, German Member of European Parliament (MEP), Martin Schulz, said the situation in Poland was like a "coup." The two countries were also been at loggerheads over the refugee crisis, after the PiS refused to take in any migrants.
In a 13 February 2009 Sejm address, FM Sikorski announced plans for a media campaign highlighting Poland's leading role in toppling communism in 1989. The campaign's slogan, "Freedom: Made in Poland," was intended to remind Europeans that the fall of the Berlin Wall would not have been possible without the leadership of Poland's Solidarity movement. Polish media took note when an EU Commission-prepared short documentary on the fall of communism gave short shrift to events in Poland.
Germany-Poland relations span over a millennium, marked by periods of alliance, conflict, and reconciliation. Early interactions began in the 10th century with the Piast dynasty's ties to the Holy Roman Empire, including conflicts like the Battle of Cedynia in 972 and the Polish–Teutonic Wars, which ended with Poland's victory at Grunwald in 1410. The 18th-century partitions of Poland by Prussia, Russia, and Austria led to Germanization policies and Polish uprisings.
It is known that the "Iron Chancellor" Otto Bismarck "maintained a dislike for the Poles... from the beginning to the end of his life." The "Iron Chancellor" considered the creation of an independent Poland a catastrophe for Prussia, since the latter would then acquire a new permanent enemy or "an ally for any adversary who attacks us."
In the 20th century, World War I saw German occupation, followed by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, which restored Polish territories but fueled tensions. A 1934 non-aggression pact was short-lived, as Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, triggered World War II, resulting in approximately 6 million Polish deaths, including the Holocaust and destruction of cultural heritage.
Post-war, Poland gained former German territories, leading to the expulsion of up to 11 million ethnic Germans, and the Oder-Neisse line was recognized in treaties like the 1950 Treaty of Zgorzelec (with East Germany) and the 1970 Treaty of Warsaw (with West Germany). Cold War relations improved under Ostpolitik, with Willy Brandt's symbolic "Warschauer Kniefall" in 1970. After 1989, reunified Germany confirmed the border in 1990, and Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the EU in 2004, fostering cooperation despite occasional historical disputes.
Germany is Poland's largest trading partner and the biggest investor in the Polish economy. Between January and April 2025, bilateral trade remained robust, with Germany accounting for a significant share of Poland's exports and imports, though minor fluctuations occurred. Poland has become Germany's fifth-largest trading partner overall, surpassing Italy in 2020, and the largest in East-Central Europe. Economic interdependence has grown, with German companies relocating manufacturing to Poland due to lower labor and energy costs—electricity prices in Poland are about 50% lower than in Germany, leading to job shifts in 2025.
This trend highlights Poland's rising competitiveness but also underscores Germany's energy policy challenges, such as the nuclear phase-out.Political and Diplomatic RelationsAs EU and NATO members, Germany and Poland maintain close ties, with an open border since Poland joined the Schengen Area in 2007. They collaborate in forums like the Weimar Triangle (with France), established in 1991, which has become a key tool for Poland's foreign policy, especially in supporting Ukraine against Russia's invasion.
Intergovernmental consultations, such as those in 2024 under Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, have emphasized joint action on security and EU enlargement. However, relations have been described as "toxic" at times, with Germany seeking to repair them through financial support for Poland's eastern border fortifications.
Public sentiment in Poland sometimes reflects anti-German views, with accusations that Tusk's government is pro-German, though Tusk has pushed for a "new beginning" in relations.
Broader European migration policies have strained ties, as seen in the reinstatement of border checks across the Schengen Area in 2025.Military and Security CooperationBoth nations are committed to NATO's defense spending goals, with Poland increasing from 2.7% of GDP in 2022 to a projected 4.7% in 2025, and Germany also ramping up efforts.
They share the burden in European defense, including joint NATO initiatives like the Multinational Corps Northeast. Germany has provided security guarantees and assistance for Poland's eastern flank, including air surveillance, amid threats from Russia. In 2021, Germany announced a monument in Berlin for Polish WWII victims, symbolizing ongoing reconciliation.
Relations in 2025 have seen both progress and setbacks. Economic ties remain strong, but political tensions resurfaced with Poland's new President Karol Nawrocki demanding WWII reparations during a September visit to Berlin and on the invasion anniversary, estimating damages at $1.3 trillion—claims Germany has rebuffed, citing past resolutions. Germany proposed security guarantees as an alternative.
A border crisis emerged in summer 2025, with Poland introducing temporary controls on its borders with Germany and Lithuania starting July 7, extended multiple times due to irregular migration concerns. This was prompted by Polish nationalists protesting alleged migrant pushbacks from Germany, pressuring the government and signaling potential cracks in the Schengen system.
Despite these issues, experts note favorable conditions for strengthening ties, with interdependence growing and joint efforts against external threats. Overall, while historical grievances persist, mutual interests in trade, defense, and EU stability drive cooperation.
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