In the midst of a severe financial crisis, Greece is trying to find alternative ways to replenish the budget. A variety of options have already been voiced, ranging from the sale of some of the country's islands to the billing of Germany for the crimes of the Germans during World War II.
The Greek Finance Ministry decided to raise the issue of Germany's payment of reparations for the damage caused to the country during the Second World War. This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Finance of Greece Christos Staikouros. According to him, the Greeks have the right to resolve this issue in a way that satisfies them.
According to the official, experts will carefully study the archives of the ministry, this will help establish the exact amount of damage. The issue of Germany's debt is very complex and must therefore be resolved in accordance with international law.
The issue of reparations was raised back in 2010 by the Deputy Prime Minister of Greece Theodoros Pangalos, who said that during the war the occupiers took out the country's gold reserves, thereby destroying its economy. He also reminded about the need to compensate the loan of two billion, compulsorily issued by Greece to the Germans during the Second World War.
Considering that in the total amount of stabilization loans received by Greece, Germany's contribution is the largest, the Germans felt offended and did not even want to hear about any new reparations. Germany recalled that the Greeks had already received $ 74 million as reparations under the 1960 treaty, so all obligations of the Germans to Greece were canceled.
When evaluating the first statements of the Greeks about new compensation, it is necessary to take into account the fact that they were made during the campaign before the parliamentary elections. As a rule, in its course, candidates do not skimp on promises and loud political statements, trying to win the sympathy of voters. Moreover, they do not lose anything: it will be possible to draw out some more funds from Germany - well, it will not work - it is also not scary. The specific amount of the claim against the Germans has not yet been announced, but during the discussion of the issue, figures from 7.5 to 70 billion euros have already been named.
The desire of the Greeks to receive additional funds in the context of the financial crisis is quite understandable, however, the presentation of the next financial claims to the Germans may go sideways for the country. Germany is already the country's largest creditor in Europe; its authorities have long tried in every possible way to avoid Greece's exit from the eurozone. But the patience of the Germans also has a limit, and the loud statements of the Greeks about the payment of reparations may be the last straw. It is possible that Germany's attitude to the issue of saving Greece could change dramatically. Moreover, the German financial services are already calculating options for the most painless exit of Greece from the eurozone.
