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Karmadillo

(9,253 posts) Mon Feb 9, 2015, 11:20 AM Feb 2015

Greece wants $236 billion in German World War II reparations [View all]

http://www.smh.com.au/world/greece-wants-236-billion-in-german-world-war-ii-reparations-20150209-139c1z.html

Athens: Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras says the country has a "moral obligation" to claim reparations from Germany for the damages wrought by the Nazis during World War II.

Greece had "a moral obligation to our people, to history, to all European peoples who fought and gave their blood against Nazism," he said in a key address to parliament.

Berlin has already sounded a firm "no" to requests for reparations nearly 70 years after the end of the war, but Mr Tsipras and his radical left party have vowed to tackle the issue. The issue risks aggravating already strained ties between Athens and Berlin, as Mr Tsipras bids to reverse austerity measures imposed by its international creditors.

"Our historical obligation is to claim the occupation loan and reparations," the new prime minister said, referring to Germany's four-year occupation of Greece and a war-time loan which the Third Reich forced the Greek central bank to give it, and which ruined the country financially.

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Greece wants $236 billion in German World War II reparations [View all] Karmadillo Feb 2015 OP

Laying the groundwork for a default methinks. Nuclear Unicorn Feb 2015 #1

Good title. Not sure that Greece is broke. W/O debt, they claim a surplus. freshwest Feb 2015 #37

Well, you don't really need to be an economist to see what would happen. Nuclear Unicorn Feb 2015 #43

They behave as if they are self-sufficient though. I suggest it's their reluctance to fight with... freshwest Feb 2015 #46

Ukraine may want reparations from Russia one day. Don't hold your breath, guys. pampango Feb 2015 #2

You should explain them facts to the Israelis. Warren Stupidity Feb 2015 #4

That is interesting. I knew about the reparations paid in the 1950's but not the 2009 request. pampango Feb 2015 #17

Interesting information. thanks for posting this. 2banon Feb 2015 #18

How is this different from Germany paying reparations to us? They did. jwirr Feb 2015 #11

I did not know that. The wiki on German reparations doesn't mention it. pampango Feb 2015 #14

I remember from something in the 60s talking about it and they paid us everything they owed. jwirr Feb 2015 #16

What did they owe us? former9thward Feb 2015 #29

Okay I am wrong but not totally. At Potsdam in 1945 it was decided that Germany would pay jwirr Feb 2015 #32

I was wrong see post 32 jwirr Feb 2015 #45

That's worth a heart. Thanks for the clarification. n/t pampango Feb 2015 #47

Thank you for the heart. jwirr Feb 2015 #49

Reparations for what? MattSh Feb 2015 #15

Russia gave us Alaska GummyBearz Feb 2015 #19

What the hell do they teach in schools these days? MattSh Feb 2015 #24

Oh... GummyBearz Feb 2015 #27

Learn some history before you spout off nonsense. MattSh Feb 2015 #28

Logic? GummyBearz Feb 2015 #30

That's not the issue being discussed in the OP. MattSh Feb 2015 #35

The OP GummyBearz Feb 2015 #36

Ha! that was unexpected. Sort of a brilliant off-footing move. Now the Germans have to Warren Stupidity Feb 2015 #3

there are so many things that this could lead to... tk2kewl Feb 2015 #5

Which is why those appearing before the EU with hat in hand and pockets out-turned Nuclear Unicorn Feb 2015 #8

worth a shot though. tk2kewl Feb 2015 #9

Germans do not have to defend anything. former9thward Feb 2015 #33

Tell the Israelis. Warren Stupidity Feb 2015 #50

There is a difference Amishman Feb 2015 #56

Good for them and I hope they also start going after their Crooked Bankers and Politicians sabrina 1 Feb 2015 #6

A meme which needs repeating: "Economic Terrorist" (taken from Economic Hit Man?) 2banon Feb 2015 #20

Even if they don't get it GummyBearz Feb 2015 #23

How much guilt do present-day German taxpayers bear for the deeds of the Nazis? Nye Bevan Feb 2015 #7

They paid reparations to the USA. jwirr Feb 2015 #12

Do you have a link? former9thward Feb 2015 #34

I was wrong see post 32. I looked on the a site called War Reparations and learned that we did not jwirr Feb 2015 #48

What's Happiness got to do with it? How about Justice? 2banon Feb 2015 #21

So.... if it turned out that your great-grandpa had done something horrible, Nye Bevan Feb 2015 #26

For starters, yeah..it's called Restorative Justice. (edited) 2banon Feb 2015 #31

Restorative Justice would be the guilty paying for their own misdeeds. What is being described here Nuclear Unicorn Feb 2015 #44

Yes, you would? philosslayer Feb 2015 #51

Straw man.. 2banon Feb 2015 #54

It's not a straw man philosslayer Feb 2015 #57

Good. I hope they get it. nt. polly7 Feb 2015 #10

reparations worked so well after ww1--why germany learned it lesson and never bothered anyone again dembotoz Feb 2015 #13

Germany wont pay GummyBearz Feb 2015 #25

Good on the new Greek leadership.. 2banon Feb 2015 #22

I'm not sure this is constructive. fbc Feb 2015 #38

They should be asking reparations from banksters and Wall Street fasttense Feb 2015 #39

The Greeks are well known for dodging taxes, too. randome Feb 2015 #53

not actually the first time MisterP Feb 2015 #40

Dafuq? Cali_Democrat Feb 2015 #41

Sweet malaise Feb 2015 #42

Greece has a high rate of Anti Semitism JI7 Feb 2015 #52

Germany wants to cram more austerity down the Greeks throats AgingAmerican Feb 2015 #55