During commemorations of a Nazi massacre that took place in northern Greece over seventy years ago, Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras revived claims that Germany owed Greece money from damages caused during World War II.
“We will go all the way, first diplomatically and then legally, if necessary,” Tsipras said during remembrance events in the village of Kommeno, in Arta, northwestern Greece, where more than 300 civilians were massacred on August 16, 1943.
Tsipras’ government set up an inter-parliamentary committee which was analyzing the issue of reparations and would make recommendations to the prime minister.
Although the document wasn’t released officially, it was leaked to Greek media reportedly claims a figure of €300-€400 billion due to Greece.
Germany has long denied it owes Greece money, claiming that the reparations issue was settled in the past.
Last year, Greece’s Defense Ministry undertook an awareness campaign, reviving talk of the reparations issue with a video that was produced and widely circulated, including on monitors in various Athens Metro Stations, during the peak summer tourist season.