德国将向波兰归还纳粹掠夺文物,包括73份中世纪珍贵文献
Huan Qiu Shi Bao·2025-12-02 22:55

Group 1 - The German government officially announced the return of a batch of cultural artifacts looted during World War II to Poland, including 73 medieval documents and a 14th-century sculpture fragment [1] - The Polish Minister of Culture described the return as a historic day and the most significant cultural heritage restitution since 1989, emphasizing the high historical value of the documents [1][2] - The documents date back to the 13th to 15th centuries and include key historical texts related to the Teutonic Knights and their relationship with Poland, with the earliest document issued by Pope Innocent III in 1215 [1][2] Group 2 - The artifacts were originally stored in Poland's Wawel Castle before being transferred to Warsaw and later seized by Nazi Germany during its invasion in 1939, marking the beginning of a long exile [2] - Poland has been pursuing the return of these documents since 1948, with renewed efforts in the 1990s and early 2000s, culminating in a formal request to Germany in 2022 [2] - The current Polish government has emphasized the importance of restoring relations with neighboring countries, which has facilitated dialogue and progress on cultural heritage restitution [2] Group 3 - An expert noted that Germany's decision to return the looted artifacts reflects a moral reckoning and a commitment to historical justice, which is essential for regaining international trust [3] - While acknowledging Germany's willingness to return the artifacts, Poland continues to press for reparations for World War II victims, with previous demands for compensation amounting to trillions of euros [3] - The German Chancellor acknowledged the historical responsibilities towards Poland but did not provide a direct response to the compensation issue, indicating ongoing dialogue [3]