Friedrich Merz in the Bundestag Photo: AA/ABACA / Abaca Press / Profimedia
German authorities will return to Poland valuable artifacts that were stolen by the Nazis during the Second World War, local media reported on Sunday, according to AFP.
On Monday, in a meeting dedicated to discussing Polish-German cooperation, the “historic restitution of cultural property looted during World War II” will also be addressed, according to local news site Onet.pl.
The Polish side describes the restitution as having an “innovative character”.
Among the artifacts, documents of the Teutonic Order
The artifacts are said to include a carving of a saint's head stolen from Malbork Castle, a royal residence in northern Poland, as well as documents from the Teutonic Order, a Catholic brotherhood of crusading knights from the Middle Ages.
Warsaw had been demanding the return of the Teutonic Order archives since 1948.
During World War II, countless Polish artifacts, including historical archives and works of art, were looted by Nazi Germany. The issue has long been a source of tension between the two countries.
Nationalist and conservative politicians in Poland, including President Karol Nawrocki, demanded war reparations from Germany.
Meeting between Chancellor Merz and Prime Minister Tusk
Monday's meeting in Berlin will be attended by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as well as the Polish foreign and defense ministers, according to the Federal Chancellor's Office.
The leaders plan to discuss security issues, including the war in Ukraine, as well as cooperation between their governments.
Poland's foreign ministry did not respond to AFP's request for comment on the situation on Sunday.
