Table
2. Linkage in German-Polish Relations
The following table summarizes
the various cases of economic linkage in German-Polish relations which
were examined in this study. The table first lists the year(s) in
which each German linkage attempt took place. It next classifies
each attempt, using the four linkage types developed in the study.
Linkage can be positive (economic incentives) or negative
(economic sanctions). It can also be specific (linked to a
single political objective) or general (designed to affect the entire
bilateral relationship). The instruments used in each attempt are
also listed. In the third column, the goals which Germany attempted
to achieve in each case are summarized. Finally, the cases are classified
as to their overall success or failure and some details of the results
of the cases are given.
|
Year(s)
|
Linkage Type
|
German Goal(s)
|
Results
|
|
1918-1933
|
Negative General
Embargo during 1920-1921 Polish war with Russia
***
1925-1934 tariff war
|
Protect German Minority
***
Revise German-Polish Border
|
Unsuccessful
1920 Polish law bars foreign land ownership
***
No progress on borders, minority rights
|
|
1933-ca. 1938
|
Positive General
End to tariff war
***
1934 trade pact
|
General improvements in relations
***
Rights of German minority
***
Shift German trade to weak countries
|
Successful
Non-Aggression Treaty (1934)
***
Minority Rights Treaty (1937)
|
|
1949-1955
|
Negative General
Embargo Policy
|
Weaken Communist Bloc
***
Progress in unification
|
Unsuccessful
|
|
1955-1956
|
Positive Specific
Limited credits
***
Trade increase
|
Emigration for German minority (ca. 100,000 Germans
acknowledged by Poles)
|
Successful
Emigration agreement (12/55)
|
|
1963
|
Positive General
Trade mission set up in Poland
***
First German diplomatic presence since WWII
***
1963 trade treaty
***
Some help with Polish exports to EC
|
General improvement in ties to FRG without Bonn recognition
of border or GDR
***
Effort to create discord between USSR and Poland
|
Successful
Cited as a major success of conservative "Policy
of Movement" (ca. 1963-1968)
|
|
1970
|
Positive General
Brandt package
***
Trade Treaty (10/70)
***
Large Export Credits
|
General improvement in ties
***
Improvement in German image in Poland
***
Polish acceptance of some border ambiguity
***
German minority issues
|
Successful
Rallying cry of "German threat" defused gradually
***
Warsaw Treaty (12/70)
***
"Unilateral" Polish action allows 35,000 ethnic Germans
to emigrate
|
|
1975
|
Positive Specific
Poland given 1 billion DM loan
***
1.3 billion DM grant to cover pensions for pre-WWII
German citizens now in Poland
|
German minority emigration
|
Successful
Over 125,000 ethnic Germans emigrate
|
|
1981
|
Negative Specific
Aid and Credit Suspension
|
Resumption of dialogue with Solidarity after marital
law declaration
|
Unsuccessful
|
|
1989
|
Positive General
2.5 billion DM of debt rescheduled (first in West
to do this)
***
500 million DM currency stabilization fund
***
2.5 billion export credits despite Polish debt
***
1975 debt essentially forgiven
|
General improvement in relations with new government
***
German minority rights
***
Polish silence regarding borders
|
Successful
Joint Declaration of 11/89
***
Allows German minority in Poland to exist openly
for first time since WWII
***
Does not include "recognition" of border
|
|
1991
|
Positive Specific
Polish links to EC
***
Support in Polish debt talks
***
Visa-free travel for Poles (4/91)
***
500 million DM fund for WWII victims
|
Polish granting of special rights to German minority
|
Successful
German-Polish Treaty (6/91) gives German minority
"protected" status
***
German language schools
***
Use of German with officials
***
Right of German citizens to live in Poland when Poland
joins EC
***
Guaranteed representatives for German minority in
Parliament
|
|
post-1991
|
Positive General (1)
Euroregion Concept
|
Regional economic cooperation helps improve border
security and German links to formerly German regions in Poland
|
Successful
EC created several Euroregions at German request,
benefiting Poles economically
|
|
1993-
|
Positive Specific
Aid for border projects and expense of repatriating
illegals
|
Polish cooperation in halting illegal immigration
into Germany
|
Successful
Poland cooperates with new, controversial German
"asylum" policy--agreeing to be a "secure third country" which stops immigrants
|