A farewell visit is not the occasion to openly display conflict.
The visit of the Federal Chancellor to Warsaw on Saturday went quite harmoniously.
Angela Merkel and the Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki assured each other of the importance of cooperation between Poland and Germany for both countries.
Representing the many irritations in the German-Polish relationship, there was a meeting on the trip that never happened: Polish President Duda preferred other, domestic political dates to a meeting with the Chancellor.
Bilateral conflict issues such as Nord Stream 2 were raised publicly, but in a conciliatory tone.
Sharp words were also avoided on the escalating dispute between the EU Commission and the Warsaw government over the rule of law in Poland.
The importance of this dispute for Germany can hardly be overestimated.
Because even if nobody wants a Polexit, Poland's exit from the EU, there is a growing risk that this will happen.
Economically, Poland is one of Germany's most important partners.
And the refugee drama brought about by the Belarusian dictator Alexandr Lukashenko on the Polish eastern border shows how important the country is for Germany's security.