What German reparations… Steinmeier came and took 2.2 billion euros from Greece

“Where we were owed, everything was taken from us” (“εκεί που μας χρωστάγανε μας πήραν και το βόδι”) – this statement is true in relation to Germany and its obligations to pay debts to Greece that arise from the war reparations, occupation loan and compensation to relatives of victims of the German occupation.

This became obvious when analyzing the results of the three-day visit of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to our country from October 29 to October 31, 2024. In particular, responding to the President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou, who raised the issue of German debts, Mr. Steinmeier said: “Our legal positions on the issue of reparations differ, and you know it. We believe that from a legal point of view this issue is closed. However, we remain committed to our historical responsibility, not only in relation to Thessaloniki, but also elsewhere. That is why I decided to contact those who remained in Thessaloniki, the Jewish community, and discuss how we could create a monument in memory of the people who died.”

Another German “Nein” regarding German reparations caused a sharp reaction in Greek society and, of course, fueled the already tense atmosphere in Kandanos before Steinmeier's visit.

Thus the inhabitants of the martyrdom of Candanosa greeted the German President, loudly chanting “JUSTICE”, while one of the victims' relatives addressed Mr. Steinmeier with the emphatic: “I do not want to shake the hand of the murderer.” Also, another descendant of a victim of the occupation told him: “Eighty years ago you shot our parents, now you are killing us for the second time.”

Finally, addressing the German President, Metropolitan Amphilohios of Kissamos and Selinus emphasized: “Your country not only did not support us during the years of memorandums, but also pushed us towards the IMF. And since you told the President of the Hellenic Republic that you are committed to your historical responsibility, German reparations and the occupation loan are a commitment to your country's historical responsibility.”

Thus, Berlin openly did not care about the Greeks, who demanded full repayment of German reparations and the occupation loan. Steinmeier left Athens with a package of 2.2 billion euros, which goes towards early repayment of payments for 2026, 2027 and 2028 on the German loan of the first memorandum.

However, the outrage of the Greek people began to reach a critical point, as the German President not only loudly slammed the door on the Greek demands for repayment of German reparations and the occupation loan, but also left, taking with him 2.2 billion euros, as I already explained in my interview on this topic for Militaire News.

This happened because the government, ahead of Steinmeier's visit, confirmed in the most solemn way that it had already launched the necessary procedures for the early repayment of payments of 7.95 billion euros that expire in 2026, 2027 and 2028 under the bilateral loans of the first memorandum.

Specifically, of the above-mentioned amount of 7.95 billion euros, 2.2 billion will go into the pockets of the German state investment bank KFW, which lent to Greece under the bilateral loans of the first memorandum in 2010.

Moreover, Germany, knowing that Greece was demanding German reparations and an occupation loan to avoid a possible offset or counterclaim, rather than as a state lending to Greece as France, Italy, Spain and other eurozone countries had done, ended up lending Athens not directly, but through KFW.

In addition, as we already revealed in 2010, in Greece's loan agreement with the eurozone states of the first memorandum, Berlin included a clause that prohibits Athens from filing objections to offsets and counterclaims, fearing that through offsets or counterclaims Greece could begin to receive part of the military reparations or occupation loan.

Now, with the actions of the Mitsotakis government, Berlin has received relief from its difficult economic period, as it has secured early repayment of the KFW loan payments for 2026, 2027 and 2028 in the amount of 2.2 billion euros.

It is noteworthy that during their meeting on October 30, 2024 in Megaro MaximoKyriakos Mitsotakis, turning to Steinmeier, and before even raising the issue of reparations and a forced occupation loan, told him with a hint: “As you know, Greece is doing very, very well economically.” And Steinmeier, without even bothering to mention German reparations, immediately got to the point, answering with a hint: “I am particularly pleased that Greece is back on the path to economic growth, furthering our bilateral economic relations.”

It sounded something like this: “Since everything is good with you, and everything is bad with us, return our loans to us ahead of schedule. And forget about reparations….”

It is no secret that with regard to bilateral European loans, the Mitsotakis government made early repayment of double payments back in 2022, that is, for 2022 and 2023 (!!!), on the so-called debt obligations of our country to the German state bank KFW, as well as to other European creditors, based on the loan agreement between Greece and the eurozone states of May 8, 2010, the first memorandum, which euphemism is called Greek Loan Facility (GLF).

Then, on December 15, 2023, the government also made early repayment of double payments for 2024 and 2025 to KFW and other European creditors. And in mid-December, the government will make an early repayment of triple payments for 2026, 2027 and 2028 to KFW and other European creditors.

“We are not supporters of robbery: a braggart doesn’t need a knife, just give him a little lip service and do with him whatever you want!”, as Mr. Steinmeier would say…

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