Blake Hall
For the Nazi occupation of its country, Greece says Germany owes it nearly $305.17 billion (279 billion euros) in reparations, according to the deputy finance minister Monday.
For decades, the Greek government — in addition to private citizens — have clamored for war damages from Germany, but until now have never put it into numbers.
The country’s General Accounting Office tallied the bill, which they say accounts for the following:
- Looted national treasures
- 10.3 billion euro “occupation loan” that was extracted from the Bank of Greece, by Germany, during the 1940s occupation
- Hardship “stemming from the imposition of austerity”
Germany has remained steadfast in denying they owe anything to Greece, while making their case that a previous payment to the country in 1960 of 115 million deutschmarks settled all arrears.
It’s no secret that Greece is being pressed by the European Union as well as the International Monetary Fund to pay their mounting debts. They were rescued by the two organizations from insolvency back in 2010 in exchange for strict austerity measures.