Greek President Tasoulas is again calling for German reparations

Greek President Konstantinos Tasoulas has reiterated Greece's demands for German war reparations. At commemorations marking the 83rd anniversary of the Lyngiades massacre in northern Greece, he said the Greek Republic's claims remained "active, legitimate and not time-barred." The Greek President's speech was broadcast by Greek television ERTNews.

According to Greek information, 88 people were killed by German occupying troops in the massacre in Lyngiades and the surrounding towns. The victims included more than 40 children and young people aged up to 17 years. The crime took place during the German occupation of Greece in World War II. In 2014, the then Federal President Joachim Gauck visited Lyngiades and laid a wreath at the massacre memorial.

Greece, which was occupied by the Wehrmacht during World War II, has long been demanding compensation for war damage and the repayment of a loan forced by the occupying power. According to Greek calculations, this amounts to between 278 and 341 billion euros, depending on the calculation method.

Germany rejects Greece's demands for reparations and believes that the issue is legally closed. The federal government is relying on the Two Plus Four Treaty signed in 1990 upon reunification, which states that “no further reparations” are planned. Lawyers and historians from both countries are currently divided over the Greeks' right to reparations.