Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma, the lower house of the parliament, has stirred controversy by demanding that Poland pay Russia a staggering $750 billion for its liberation at the end of World War II and subsequent assistance in rebuilding the country, according to a report by independent outlet Notes from Poland.
Volodin, a prominent figure in Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party, also called for the return of lands received by Poland as part of the postwar settlement and proposed a ban on Polish trucks entering Russia.
Volodin’s remarks align with a revisionist interpretation of history that has gained traction among Russian political leaders, including Putin himself. While the Red Army did liberate Poland from Nazi German occupation, it also imposed decades of communist rule that lasted until 1989. It is worth noting that the war commenced in 1939 when Stalin and Hitler collaborated to invade Poland and divide it between themselves.
And although Poland did acquire land from Germany in the west as part of the postwar settlement, it simultaneously lost a larger portion of territory in the east, which became part of the Soviet Union. However, Volodin failed to mention this significant fact.
Poland gained some 101,000 square kilometers (39,000 square miles) in the west and north but lost about 178,000 square kilometers (69,000 square miles) of its pre-war territory in the east. The Soviet Union has never admitted to invading or annexing Polish territory when it did so in 1939, mirroring its claims of launching “a special military operation” in Ukraine.
In his statement, Volodin argued that Poland had forgotten the high price paid by the Soviet people for liberating the country from fascist invaders. He claimed that a third of Poland’s current territories were acquired after World War II thanks to the Soviet Union and asserted that they had spent over $750 billion in today’s terms on Poland’s postwar reconstruction. Notes from Poland points out that while the Soviets did contribute to Poland’s recovery, they also hindered its access to aid under the US Marshall Plan by exerting control over the country.
Volodin further accused Poland’s current authorities of demolishing Red Army monuments, closing Russian schools, and confiscating Russian property. However, Poland’s recent actions, such as seizing properties previously used by the Russian embassy, were based on earlier court orders disregarded by Moscow.
As a result of Poland’s alleged disregard for common history and disrespect for the memory of Russian soldiers, Volodin argued that the country should return the territories gained after World War II and reimburse Russia for the funds spent during the war and postwar years.
Additionally, he suggested a ban on Polish trucks entering Russia, a move that could bankrupt 2,000 Polish firms employing 20,000 drivers and cost Poland €8.5 billion ($9.2 billion).
The Polish government has not yet responded officially to Volodin’s demands. In 2020, the leader of Poland’s ruling party called for Russia to pay reparations for the Soviet invasion and occupation during World War II, to which Russia’s ambassador responded by suggesting that Poland should pay for its liberation from Nazi German occupation.
Warsaw has made its position as a strong ally of Ukraine clear since Russia’s invasion last year. It has provided military and humanitarian aid to Kyiv and has been an advocate for imposing stricter international sanctions on Moscow.
Volodin said that his proposal will be discussed by the Duma on Monday.
Information for this story was found via Reuter, Notes from Poland, and the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
