History / Poland - problem for Germany? (historically continual hostility of German state on Poland) [154]


Not even the number of refugees went down that much. From an all-time high in 2015 from 800k to now 180k. Normal migration is still going strong, and considering Germany's need for workers, thankfully so. Poland is also in desperate need for workers, and the Ukrainians fill this gap (who are also not refugees).

Life / Are Poles mentally more Eastern European or Western European? [170]

It was very centralized for its' time at last. There were of course limits of the time (e.g. the still very underdeveloped bureaucracy) but if there is one example of a centralized country in the Early Modern Time period, it is France.

Life / Are Poles mentally more Eastern European or Western European? [170]


Still heavily centralized. In fact the revolution put even more power in the hands of the central government than before, because some local authorities tried to resist the revolution (think of Vendee).

Life / Are Poles mentally more Eastern European or Western European? [170]


It is rather amusing to see that those aspects criteria apply more to Germany during history than e.g. France, a country that I suspect was classified by him as "Latin". Remember it was France that became increasingly centralized since the Middle Ages, while in Germany local authorities became more and more important. Not to mention that the HRE allowed individual rights like the choice of (Christian) confession. Even Bismarck's Empire was more federalized than contemporary France. The only brief time period in which the opposite was true wouble be the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich. And since 1949 it has reverted back to the former.

History / Why are Poles/Poland disliked by Germans? [140]

By then the pro-European youth will have taken power in Poland, so it won't matter by then.

History / Why are Poles/Poland disliked by Germans? [140]

Well, it is true that there are some religious news from Poland that have raised a few eyebrows, like building that ridiculous huge statue of Jesus, but I doubt that this is a significant factor. When many think of a conservative catholic country, they are more likely to think of Ireland, though this might change now. Again, this is probably just a sign of common ignorance.

History / Why are Poles/Poland disliked by Germans? [140]


Unlikely. If you ask most Germans below a certain age, they are rarely aware e.g. about the former German territories. The German article you linked gives imho the most important reason, there is still relatively little exchange between both countries - aside from those who emigrate for work. The language barrier is an obvious problem, and it will take time to change this. Both countries have increased their school and university exchange programs, so the next generation will feel more connected.

That being said, it is not surprising that the current view in Germany is not very friendly towards Poland. I mean what kind of news is the average German likely to hear from Poland? He hears about how PiS is undermining the rule of law, is pointlessly antagonizing Germany over long solved issues (e.g. reparations) and the refusal to help during the refugee crisis has also not gone over well.

News / Pawel Adamowicz, Gdansk mayor, dies after stabbing [354]

Could you translate this?

News / Poland's News sources [59]


What you mean is decent politicians who do not exploit democracy and actually care about the well-being of their country.


Nicely quoted without context. Of course national elections can not be used as an excuse to change economical agreements that were agreed upon with other countries. You might use them to cancel them alltogether, but you can not expect other democratically elected governments to suddenly make concessions. Which is what Varoufakis demanded.

Varoufakis is also a textbook populist. Immediately after gaining power he tried to force through Grexit despite a clear majority being against it, with him later calling a referendum in which he told the people blatant lies (which were even more obviously wrong than the Brexit campaign).

Off-Topic / Ukraine, Belarus, Russia in EU in 2030? [105]


I very much doubt that. It is against the interest of the EU to allow countries with existing territorial disputes to enter the EU. We got already burned with Cyprus, and not insisting on solving the issue permanently between Croatia and Slovenia lead to another unnecessary conflict. The EU will demand a permanent settlement of the issue, including a binding treaty , and since the EU holds all the cards, it seems very unlikely that they will settle for less. Large countries like Germany and Poland - who have experience with border questions - have said so in the past, and there are other countries like Croatia who have even more reasons to not make any concessions on the matter.

Off-Topic / Ukraine, Belarus, Russia in EU in 2030? [105]

If Merkel said that, it would be easy for you to find a link to that.

Naturally the country that wants to join will want to portray things as more positive than they really are. Just like e.g. Serbia continues to claim that they won't have to acknowledge Kosovo, though European politicians have stated the opposite.

As BB explained, this timeline is highly unlikely and thus are probably not from Merkel or her entourage.

Language / Will Germans be able to understand Polish enough? [77]

Well, if you speak Korean you will also be able speak to people in Korean restaurants which habe become quite popular.

But aside from those very specific situations, it is very unlikely. The plan should not be to rely Polish languagr skills for vital information.

Language / Will Germans be able to understand Polish enough? [77]

The German school system simply favours other languages. English is nowadays a pretty safe bet if you are in cities. French is a possibility if youbare in Western/South Western Germany. There are some who still learn Russian in school (even in West Germany), but you would be hard-pressed to find any. Meeting people who speak Polish highly unlikely.

Off-Topic / Russophiles can no longer defend their beloved Russians. [84]

Or station German soldiers in Lithuania to protect them against Russian agression.

It would be great if Germany and Russia were allies (just as France and Germany are allies) because that would end all danger of a large European war. However Russia has rejected the terms under which such an alliance could be possible. Moscow is not willing to respect the independence of its' neighbours and Russia's steps towards a democracy have been undone under Putin. It is impossible for Germany to have an alliance with such a state.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]


They were known as the professor party because they were founded by eurosceptic professors like Lucke. Those relatively moderates have already been purged by more radical elements (who were themselves purged by more extremists after the last federal election).

There is nothing intellectual about their leadership anymore, nor their voters. They instead listen to demented old men like Gauland, or thugs like Bachmann. The fact that their entire believes are based on misconceptions and lies does not speak well of their intelligence. You could make a reasonable argument that the Euro is a flawed construct, and breaking it up would be better in the long run (though most experts disagree). But to rationally believe in the AfD is next to impossible. All the AfD has is scaremongering or lies.

News / Should Poland made an energy bridge deal with Russia? [122]

The EU does not do anything in this case. The EU countries decided to place sanctions on Russia, which have to be approved by all member states every 6 months. There is also no complete ban an alm trade with Russia.

News / New European Council's report: "Poland oasis of racism, xenophobia and homophobia" ... [343]

Do not be a hypocrite. You see people kissing in pretty much in most films aimed at children, or even advertisement.

This is not the act itself that upsets you, but the people doing it.

There is no hope for you, but hopefully your grandchildren are better persons than you, and won't inherit your bigotry.

History / Lusatian-Sarmatic obsession of Poles [153]


Indeed. It is also worth remembering that a large part of Lusatia did not participate in the uprising of 983, because they were quite satisfied how things were.

Furthermore the (Christian) Polish kings of Poland helped the German princes to reestablish their control over the area. Religion was far more important back then for people then nationality ( a concept that hardly existed back then).

History / Lusatian-Sarmatic obsession of Poles [153]


Interesting how you left out the part of the description according to which they both get nowadays along just fine and treat each other as family ;)

History / Do Polish people in general dislike Russia or Germany more? [369]


From 1960 on perhaps. Before that the regime was very brutal, there is no way to sugarcoat it.


Poland is like the rest of Eastern Europe still dealing with the legacy of the Warsaw Pact


Mongolia is in no position to threaten anyone. Russia however is. Before 2014 I would have dismissed it as scare-mongering, but Putin has since then proven me wrong. He is not simply talking anymore, he followed his words with actions.

History / Do Polish people in general dislike Russia or Germany more? [369]


I am not sure where you are going with this. Do you think it somehow makes it better that the SU did not single out Poland but instead opressed half of Europe for 4 decades? Or that some regimes installed and kept alive by the SU might have been even worse in other countries (e.g. arguably Hungary) than in Poland?


Because the current leader of Russia openly voiced his regret about the SU's demise and his main ambition is to get Russia into a similar geopolitical position again. A position that would reduce Russia's neighbours to the role of vassals.

News / German state declare diplomatic war on Poland. [56]


It was PiS who after taking power needlessly raised the nonsensical reparation claims purely for domestic reasons without concern for the diplomatic fallout. Germany has under Merkel never done the same. It is Poland who has started a senseless (and doomed) diplomatic battle with Germany, not vice versa.

News / German state declare diplomatic war on Poland. [56]


She had been in close contact with pretty much all the countries on the Balkan route to Germany on whose insistence she decided to not close the borders. Southern Europe needed solidarity and it should have been the natural reaction of especially those Eastern European countries who are demanding solidarity at every turn to make at least a token effort to help.

If you want to know why Poland will receive next to support on any European issue in the foresseable future, it is because of its' shortsigthness.

News / German state declare diplomatic war on Poland. [56]


No it did not. Germany' foreign policy towards Poland under Merkel was always very conciliatory. The happened when PiS was first in power. It is Poland under PiS that has poisened the relationship and can no longer be counted on as reliable partner in European affairs. Germany acted as it always did. Shouldering the burden of keeping the EU together, it was Poland who stopped pretending about European solidarity and has since then destabilized the EU for domestic reasons.

News / German state declare diplomatic war on Poland. [56]

If anything, it is Poland who has declared a diplomatic war( though I hate that word) against Germany since PiS came to power. It is not Germany who has changed since 2015, but Poland.

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]


Indeed. Each their own I guess.

@Crnogorac3

Are you serious here? You are using Nazi propaganda to describe the Americans? The same propaganda that claimed that the Americans would completely destroy Germany so that it never could be rebuild?

The truth is, American soldiers were very popular among the Germans. They were seen as the most benevelent soldiers (which is understandable, considering that the USA suffered less during the war than other countries) and they remained highly popular for the entire Cold War. In fact, the USA was idolized to a degree by most Germans, they hoped that Germany would become one day as democratic as the USA. Unfortunately if you idolize someone, it hits you especially hard when he does not live up to your expectations. Which explains the backlash against Vietnam, Bush and now Trump.

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]

Germany has in general strict privacy laws, a legacy of the Third Reich and the GDR (at least the GDR ist often used as a justification).

You are in general not allowed to upload any video or picture of a person without his explicite consent (there are exceptions, e.g. large crowds are acceptable).

Every country has different standards what it dems accepable. Profanity is more accepted in Germany, while depictions of violence are more accepted in the USA.


I really would not quote von Storch on anything here. She is seen as a joke even by her own party which is why she hardly visits talkshows anymore.

The incident you describe here is a perfect example when she said something stupid and tried to cover it up. The police published the greetings in German, English, French and Arab, aka as the 4 most frequently spoken languages in the city.

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]


No she never did. I dare you to find a direct quote of her stating that only doctors or engineers were coming.


No she did not. That is just what sites like jihadiwatch made up.

You know Dirk, just because you have a pathological liar who fights the media in the White House does not mean that you can simply make the same accusations against Merkel.

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]

Dirk, unlike you I have seen and heard how refugees behave in German classes. Most of them were heavily motivated, they came early and the teachers had to pry the books out of their hands in the end. The problem is however, that it is impossible to learn in a few months what others have öearned in years.


She never said anything of this. Though that explain why you keep using the term enrichement so much. Do you believe that you are sarcastically quoting Merkel?

Edit. She did use term when talking about migration in general, not refugees.