Erika Steinbach

Erika Steinbach is no longer a candidate to the supervisory board of the "Flight, Expulsion, Reconciliation" foundation, responsible for the "Visible Sign" project, an idea criticized for its revisionist approach to WW2 history, effectively whitewashing Germans. It's a success of the Polish diplomacy, says the government. It's far from enough, replies the opposition.

Erika Steinbach has been criticized for her radical revisionist historical policy, suggesting that Germans were in fact victims, not aggressors of World War two. Polish authorities undertook numerous diplomatic efforts to convince German authorities that they should distance themselves from the scandalist. Still, one of two coalition partners currently in power in Germany, openly expressed support for the candidature of Erika Steinbach to the board of the "Flight, Expulsion, Reconciliation"  foundation. This turn of events, stirred a lot of emotions on the Polish side. Then suddenly Expellees Union announced the withdrawal of Steinbach's candidature to the board.

Polish House Speaker Bronisław Komorowski said he was glad that Germans understood that Polish-German relations need to be toned down. Polish president, as well as opposition members, although welcomed the news with some relief, they still emphasized that the victory may be only superficial. Major opposition Law and Justice MP Dorota Arciszewska-Mielewczyk said Steinbach's resignation was just a game of pretence. Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of Law and Justice party said the present situation is still far from what should be done on the issue. Former PM Jarosław Kaczynski also suggested, the problems with the museum go further than just a question of interpretation of history. 'This museum is, in essence, questioning the moral rights of Poles to western and northern parts of the country,' he says.

History professor Wojciech Roszkowski agrees the problem was a real one. He supports the idea alternative to the Berlin-based museum, and that is an international WW2 memory center located in Gdansk, on the Baltic coast of Poland. 'Berlin is not the best site to show to the world the effects of World War Two,' he comments.

Click on the audio icon to listen to the report by Joanna Najfeld.