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World War Two: German president asks Poland to forgive Nazi 'tyranny' | World War Two: German president asks Poland to forgive Nazi 'tyranny' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has asked Poland's forgiveness for Nazi "tyranny", 80 years on from the start of World War Two. | German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has asked Poland's forgiveness for Nazi "tyranny", 80 years on from the start of World War Two. |
Mr Steinmeier and other world leaders are in Poland to commemorate the outbreak of the conflict. | Mr Steinmeier and other world leaders are in Poland to commemorate the outbreak of the conflict. |
Speaking in the capital, Warsaw, Mr Steinmeier apologised for the "horrific war" unleashed by Germany. | Speaking in the capital, Warsaw, Mr Steinmeier apologised for the "horrific war" unleashed by Germany. |
"This war was a German crime," he said in a speech. | "This war was a German crime," he said in a speech. |
His Polish counterpart, Andrzej Duda, and US Vice-President Mike Pence also delivered speeches in front of crowds and heads of state on Pilsudski Square. | His Polish counterpart, Andrzej Duda, and US Vice-President Mike Pence also delivered speeches in front of crowds and heads of state on Pilsudski Square. |
Mr Duda denounced Nazi Germany's attack as "an act of barbarity", while Mr Pence praised Polish people, saying they "never lost hope". | Mr Duda denounced Nazi Germany's attack as "an act of barbarity", while Mr Pence praised Polish people, saying they "never lost hope". |
Earlier on Sunday, two other commemorative events were held in the cities of Wielun and Gdansk, where the first German attacks of the war happened. | Earlier on Sunday, two other commemorative events were held in the cities of Wielun and Gdansk, where the first German attacks of the war happened. |
"Wielun was to show what kind of war it would be, that it would be a total war, a war without rules, a destructive war," Mr Duda said. | "Wielun was to show what kind of war it would be, that it would be a total war, a war without rules, a destructive war," Mr Duda said. |
Later on Sunday, Mr Duda appeared to criticise Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, alluding to a recent "return of imperialist tendencies" in Europe. | Later on Sunday, Mr Duda appeared to criticise Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, alluding to a recent "return of imperialist tendencies" in Europe. |
In a warning to European leaders, Mr Duda said "turning a blind eye" to this amounts to "consent to further attacks". | In a warning to European leaders, Mr Duda said "turning a blind eye" to this amounts to "consent to further attacks". |
Poland suffered some of the worst losses of World War Two - about six million of its citizens were killed, up to half of them Jews. | Poland suffered some of the worst losses of World War Two - about six million of its citizens were killed, up to half of them Jews. |
Eighty years on, Poland is still demanding compensation from Germany for the death and destruction inflicted. | Eighty years on, Poland is still demanding compensation from Germany for the death and destruction inflicted. |
Recent calls for reparations by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, whose governing Law and Justice (PiS) party has been accused of fanning nationalist sentiment, have fuelled tensions with Germany. | Recent calls for reparations by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, whose governing Law and Justice (PiS) party has been accused of fanning nationalist sentiment, have fuelled tensions with Germany. |
A Polish parliamentary committee is still assessing the amount of compensation, but Germany argues the matter is settled. | A Polish parliamentary committee is still assessing the amount of compensation, but Germany argues the matter is settled. |
How did World War Two start? | How did World War Two start? |
At dawn on 1 September 1939, the German Luftwaffe (air force) bombed the city of Wielun, a town with no military significance. Thousands of people are estimated to have died in the bombings, designed to sow terror among the civilian population. | At dawn on 1 September 1939, the German Luftwaffe (air force) bombed the city of Wielun, a town with no military significance. Thousands of people are estimated to have died in the bombings, designed to sow terror among the civilian population. |
After the attack, ordered by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, Britain gave Germany an ultimatum to cease military operations. | After the attack, ordered by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, Britain gave Germany an ultimatum to cease military operations. |
When the ultimatum was ignored, Britain and France declared war on Germany on 3 September, igniting a six-year conflict that would kill tens of millions of people. | When the ultimatum was ignored, Britain and France declared war on Germany on 3 September, igniting a six-year conflict that would kill tens of millions of people. |
How is the anniversary being marked? | How is the anniversary being marked? |
Three commemorative events were held on Sunday in Warsaw, Wielun and the former military post of Westerplatte, in the coastal city of Gdansk. | Three commemorative events were held on Sunday in Warsaw, Wielun and the former military post of Westerplatte, in the coastal city of Gdansk. |
In Westerplatte, where Nazi German battleships attacked a Polish military base on 1 September 1939, Mr Morawiecki and European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans attended a dawn remembrance. | In Westerplatte, where Nazi German battleships attacked a Polish military base on 1 September 1939, Mr Morawiecki and European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans attended a dawn remembrance. |
At the same time, Mr Steinmeier pleaded for "forgiveness" at a ceremony held in the Polish city of Wielun, where the first German bombs of the conflict fell. | At the same time, Mr Steinmeier pleaded for "forgiveness" at a ceremony held in the Polish city of Wielun, where the first German bombs of the conflict fell. |
At the ceremony, which began shortly after 04:00 (02:00 GMT), a minute's silence was observed in memory of the victims. | At the ceremony, which began shortly after 04:00 (02:00 GMT), a minute's silence was observed in memory of the victims. |
Later in Warsaw, international leaders rang a bell of peace and laid wreathes at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a central memorial in the Polish capital. | |
Who is attending? | Who is attending? |
In all, around 40 foreign delegations were expected to join the commemorations, according to the Polish presidency. They include German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe. | In all, around 40 foreign delegations were expected to join the commemorations, according to the Polish presidency. They include German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe. |
But world leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump, France's Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson were not present. | But world leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump, France's Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson were not present. |
Mr Trump had been due to attend but cancelled the visit abruptly, sending Mr Pence in his place, as the US east coast braced for Hurricane Dorian. | Mr Trump had been due to attend but cancelled the visit abruptly, sending Mr Pence in his place, as the US east coast braced for Hurricane Dorian. |
Mr Putin was not invited, unlike 10 years ago, when he attended commemorations remembering the estimated 600,000 Soviet soldiers killed driving out the Nazis. | Mr Putin was not invited, unlike 10 years ago, when he attended commemorations remembering the estimated 600,000 Soviet soldiers killed driving out the Nazis. |
But on this occasion, Poland changed the criteria, inviting from Europe only members of the European Union or its Eastern Partnership (which includes six former Soviet countries). | But on this occasion, Poland changed the criteria, inviting from Europe only members of the European Union or its Eastern Partnership (which includes six former Soviet countries). |
Relations between Russia and Poland, always strained by the legacy of Soviet domination after the war, have plummeted since Russia annexed Crimea. | Relations between Russia and Poland, always strained by the legacy of Soviet domination after the war, have plummeted since Russia annexed Crimea. |
Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for Russia's foreign ministry, called the decision not to invite Mr Putin "stupid". | Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for Russia's foreign ministry, called the decision not to invite Mr Putin "stupid". |