The Germen president, Joachim Gauck, defying his government’s rejection of the concept, expressed support for Greek demands for reparations for the Nazi occupation of Greece in World War Two.
Mr Gauk, speaking in an interview to be published in German press on Saturday, calling on Germany to consider its historical responsibilities, said,
“We are not only people who are living in this day and age but we’re also the descendants of those who left behind a trail of destruction in Europe during World War Two – in Greece among other places, where we shamefully knew little about it for so long. It’s the right thing to do for a history-conscious country like ours to consider what possibilities there might be for reparations.”
Greece has demanded $312 billion in reparation for the Nazi occupation, with many blaming Germany for the current tough austerity measures and record levels of unemployment in the country.
Germany, remains as Greece’s biggest international creditor.