Klaus Bachmann on the narrow horizons of Germans and Poles

Klaus Bachmann, German professor of politics and a former correspondent in Warsaw, criticises the debate culture between Poles and Germans in the Polish daily Fakt: "German-Polish relations have been strained by one thing above all others: the narrow horizons of those who discuss these relations. If we look at what is going on between Berlin and Warsaw one can't avoid the impression that the Germans are being patronising towards the Poles – acting arrogantly and condescendingly. … From this point of view the foundation of 'Visible Sign' and Erika Steinbach's role in it constitute an anti-Polish attempt to rewrite the history of the Second World War – as if the Germans were the victims and the Poles had sided with the evildoers. To a certain extent we can put this image into perspective by looking at what is happening in Europe now. All of a sudden the pipeline through the Baltic [the planned German-Russian pipeline project which Poland rejects] is not a project aimed against Poland but an attempt to diversify energy suppliers for Western Europe."

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