Why Poland Still Sees Germany as an Adversary

Prominent political figures strongly opposed the use of the term "our." President Andrzej Duda described it as a "moral provocation," arguing that portraying soldiers of the Third Reich as Polish undermines historical truth. Former Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak accused the exhibition of pushing a pro-German narrative, while Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed that real Polish heroes were those who defended their homeland. Law and Justice (PiS) leader Jarosław Kaczyński went so far as to suggest the exhibition could be an attempt to shift responsibility for the war onto Poland. Even officials from the centrist Civic Coalition criticised the title, demonstrating how the issue transcends party lines.

Grievance Politics Shapes National Identity
This episode fits into a larger pattern of anti-German sentiment that has long been a powerful force in Polish politics. During the recent presidential campaign, PiS-aligned candidate Karol Nawrocki emphasised historical grievances, promising to pursue WWII reparations from Germany amounting to 6 trillion zÅ‚oty (€1.4 trillion). He also drew links between Germany's historical actions and its current influence in the European Union, framing Brussels' rule-of-law measures as part of a German agenda.

The anti-German rhetoric also emerged in border policy. After Germany tightened its own frontier earlier in the year, Poland reinstated temporary border checks in July, citing an increase in irregular migration. While Prime Minister Donald Tusk framed the move as mutual and administrative, critics accused the government of either yielding to German pressure or not doing enough to protect Polish sovereignty. Right-wing politicians and activists, including members of the Confederation party and vigilante groups, portrayed Germany as a source of illegal migration and a new threat in a so-called "hybrid war."

These narratives have emboldened extremist voices. Figures like Grzegorz Braun and Robert BÄ…kiewicz, once seen as fringe, are now receiving broader attention. Braun secured 6% in the first round of the presidential election, and BÄ…kiewicz was recently pardoned by President Duda. Even Catholic bishops have taken part in the rhetoric, declaring Germany a perpetual adversary of Poland.

Germany Moves Closer, But Poland Resists
Ironically, this intensifying anti-German rhetoric comes at a time when Germany is adopting much of Poland's security worldview. Since Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Zeitenwende speech in 2022, Germany has overhauled its foreign and defence policy. It has increased NATO spending, deployed troops to Lithuania, supported Ukraine with heavy weaponry, and ended reliance on Russian gas. German officials now echo Polish concerns, warning that if Ukraine falls, Poland's border could be next.

Yet, these efforts have failed to soften political discourse in Poland. The country's polarised landscape has little room for nuance. Instead, historical trauma continues to serve as a potent tool in domestic politics. The memory of WWII, particularly Germany's actions, still shapes national identity and fuels political narratives.

Karol Nawrocki's campaign slogan—"fight for justice for six million murdered Poles"—illustrates how wartime history is still leveraged for political gain. In Poland's binary political culture, Germany remains the ideal adversary: a familiar, emotionally charged figure from national memory and schoolbooks alike.

Impact on European Unity and Security
The continued hostility risks complicating vital European cooperation. Germany and Poland are aligned on key issues like defence, NATO strategy, and support for Ukraine. However, anti-German rhetoric threatens to undermine this unity. It weakens the trust required for joint projects and gives adversaries like Russia opportunities to exploit internal divisions within NATO.

As Germany shifts toward a firmer security stance and closer alignment with Poland, Warsaw's internal politics appear stuck in a cycle of historical grievance. The contradiction is striking: while both nations are moving together strategically, Poland's domestic discourse pulls the relationship backwards. For now, in Polish politics, the need for an enemy appears to outweigh even the need for security.