On the day of German unity of all things, Poland's Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau signed the diplomatic note with which Warsaw formalized its demands for reparations from Germany.
In Poland, the awareness of historical symbolism is so strong that this date is no coincidence.
It is a deliberate unfriendliness that is characteristic of the German policy of the right-wing Polish government.
The federal government would do well to ignore such gestures.
That's how she should deal with demands for reparations: she shouldn't get involved in discussions.
Political short-sightedness
From Berlin's point of view, it must now be a matter of minimizing the damage that Poland's government is causing by trying to drive a wedge between two of the large member states of the EU and NATO and important supporters of Ukraine.
That's difficult given the political short-sightedness of the Polish right, which while being serious about its massive support for Ukraine, is about to give Putin a big gift.
Foreign Minister Baerbock found the right tone in Warsaw: She spoke with respect about the unhealed wounds inflicted on Poles by Germany in World War II, and at the same time emphasized Poland's and Germany's joint responsibility for Ukraine.