In your opinion, how should Germany handle Greece's request for more war reparations?
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Yesterday the German President gave a heartfelt apology (https://understanding_germany.quora.com/Apologizing-for-German-War-Crimes-in-Greece?srid=uJlP&share=1) for Nazi war crimes even as he rejected calls for reparations. So far, Greece has received 115 million marks (60 million Euros), but that was in 1960 and the Greek government claims it has always considered those as a downpayment until such time as Germany is reunited. Germany claims that that payment was to be all. Groups in Greece demand up to 162 billion Euros more â the equivalent of half of Greeceâs total government debt.
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Answer:
This seems foolish to me. Germany has paid reparations of about 55...
Tom Berntson at Quora Visit the source
Other answers
No. Everything is all done and wrapped.
Derek Larkin
No. WW2 ended 70 years ago. Holding Germans of today responsible doesn't make any sense, especially since Germany paid reparations. Greece even received reparation money. They accepted 115 million marks in 1960 for atrocities during the war with no requirement for future payments. There was another opportunity in 1990 during the 2+4 agreement to request reparations, but they didn't. Financially, WW2 is settled. Greece made their own financial disaster through terrible planning and lavish public spending. This ridiculous plea shows how desperate and clueless the new government of Greece is. They were elected on populist, nationalist sentiment and made promises they don't have the authority to keep. Now they will break their campaign promises and stick to the earlier agreement, or commit financial suicide and pretend that the laws of global economics don't apply to them.
Dan Bergeland
Without doubt Germany owed significant sums in reparations and forced loans to Greece at the end of of WWII. That is not in dispute. What is in dispute is whether a final settlement was made. Germany claims so and Greece now disputes that. With a complex legal matter dating back 70 years I'm not going to offer an opinion as the validity of the claim. What we need to ask is whether it makes sense for Greece to raise it now. By my understanding Greece has a repayment due tomorrow (09-Apr-2015) of â¬450 million. EDIT: And further more substantial payments in the coming weeks and months. We can safely assume that dragging up a massive historical issue with someone you're at least ostensibly negotiating just before a deadline is a catastrophically flawed tactic. Whatever the merits of the claim there is zero chance Angela Merkel is going to phone up tomorrow and say its a far deal and how about â¬500 million as a down payment. So what Greece is doing cannot help but is surely likely to hinder progress in a matter with a very pressing deadline. There have been claims that Tsipras wanted to leave the Euro but knew he couldn't get the electorate to vote for that so hatched a plan to "try" and then fail to remain in it. I'm always sceptical about such theories but I have to say it's gaining some credibility given the current Greek posture.
Dan Allen
Yeah if Germany borrowed Greece's gold reserves during WWII when it needed the money then it should definitely pay it back now or at least take it out of the debt, when Greece needs the money. During WWII when Greece was invaded and occupied by Germany, the gold reserves of that country, then amounting to 11 billion euro, were âborrowedâ by Nazi Germany. These assets, by some calculations using compound interest, today amount to about 500 billion Euro. Greeceâs entire debt, depending on what your source is, varies from 270 to 320 billion Euro. Supposing the Germans were to repay Greece this 500 billion, the Greeks would clear their debt to the Troika and there would be a nice chunk of change left over to get their country back on track! see also: http://therealasset.co.uk/nazi-gold-bullion/
Sam Siddiqui
As much sense as Israel asking post war Germany for reparations. My feeling is that the sons should not pay for the sins of the fathers, however dreadful the sins.... It sounds as if Greece is diving into deep pockets..... Even if Greece got the money it would be like tossing it into the John and pulling the handle....
Robert J. Kolker
To be honest, Greek government (not Greek people) are crazy, and somehow, mad. If everyone request for reparation for all the wars in the past, now we have nothing to do other than calculating the damage. Should we take into account the 100 years war, or Napoleonic war, or war since Genghis Khan?
Anonymous
It is as valid as India demanding the UK to shell out money as payment for the years of misrule, numerous deaths caused and the damage to the economy ; And we all know that is going to be a stupid request. The world saw riches and resources being siphoned off from one region to another as those regions fell to various invaders. SUch acts were taking place ever since humans decided to make nations and fight each other over control of resources. This is a harsh reality and we got to live it. So NO! Greece's demand will be laughed away by any sensible German leader. But if Germany does it willingly, then it is a development that needs to be lauded.
Vincen Mathai
The sense of course is in creating pressure on Germany to negotiate more favourably over loans. Germany, being by far the largest manufacturer in Europe, were desperate to expand the EU to second and third tier countries. Then introduce the euro to force massive wage inflation and this allowed them sell teachers Mercedes. As with the rest of the northern European countries, Germany knew that Greece and many others, falsified their finances to get into the club. Then the bubble burst and the Germans want to cripple all the smaller countries with austerity and debt. This is just 'sub prime' for countries. You tell me your finances are superb, I lend you and sell you more than you can afford. The merry go round stops and I nail you for all the debt, rather than banks being allowed to go bust. In conclusion Germany should have been utilising their massive export returns, in good times, to subsidise Greece and the other countries.
John James Mitchell
No, I don't think so. I don't know about the legal issue but I know that if it will happen then most of the colonized country will also go to the same path and will start asking money from England. They also have exploited and looted the colonized country. England will start having nightmare and mind it this process is irreversible. There will be so much complication that Allan tuner himself will not be able to break this code of who own how much of money from whom.
Dheeraj Kumar
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