Estera Flieger: Robert Bąkiewicz's actions in Berlin were not about remembrance

A confrontation between Polish activists and German police in Berlin has sparked sharp criticism from Polish politicians, particularly from the Law and Justice (PiS) party. The incident occurred just before Polish and German defense ministers were scheduled to sign a military cooperation agreement. Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of PiS, stated on X that "the only thing we can expect from Germany is a knife in the back." The activists, led by Robert Bąkiewicz and associated with the Border Defense Movement, were attempting to lay flowers at a memorial site for Polish victims of the German occupation. They proceeded to the site despite police instructions to gather elsewhere. Przemysław Czarnek, a PiS candidate for prime minister, condemned the German authorities' actions, calling them a disgrace and demanding an immediate reaction from the Polish government, including summoning the German ambassador. He asserted that the memory of millions of Poles murdered by Germany is non-negotiable. The article argues that Bąkiewicz's actions were a provocation rather than a genuine commemoration, noting that he ignored police orders. It suggests that PiS politicians are exploiting the incident to fuel anti-German sentiment, a tactic they employ when facing electoral challenges. The author contrasts Bąkiewicz's actions with a more respectful commemoration by the Pilecki Institute in Berlin on May 2nd, which involved hanging a Polish flag without police altercations. The piece concludes that the controversy does not serve the memory of Polish victims or improve German awareness of historical atrocities, and that the PiS party's approach relies on emotional manipulation rather than constructive policy.

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The only thing we can expect from Germany is a knife in the back.