Greece renews its demands for war reparations from Germany during the commemoration of the Lingiades massacre

Greece’s President, Constantine Tassoulas, reiterated on Sunday in Lingiades, in the north of the country, Athens’s demands for war reparations from Germany. The statement was made during ceremonies marking 83 years since the massacre committed in the locality by German occupying forces.

Tassoulas stated that Greece’s claims are “in force, legitimate, imprescriptible, and liable to be pursued.” He stressed that the Greek state will not forget the war crimes and atrocities committed against civilians.

On October 3, 1943, soldiers of the German Edelweiss Division looted and set fire to Lingiades, then executed 86 villagers and three people from the neighboring locality of Amfithea. Among the victims were 41 children.

Greece, occupied by the Wehrmacht during World War II, is seeking compensation for the destruction caused and repayment of a loan imposed by the German authorities. According to Athens’s calculations, the total amount is estimated at between 278 and 341 billion euros.

In 2014, German President Joachim Gauck visited Lingiades and laid a wreath at the victims’ monument. Berlin, however, rejects Greece’s demands and maintains that the issue of reparations has been legally settled.