Question 252 of 300History and Responsibility

What did Willy Brandt want to express by kneeling in the former Jewish ghetto in Warsaw in 1970?

Black-and-white photo: a man in a coat kneels in front of a memorial with a wreath of flowers, surrounded by many people and photographers.

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He submitted to the former Allies.
He asked Poland and the Polish Jews for forgiveness.
He showed his humility before the Warsaw Pact.
He said a prayer at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

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Correct answer to question 181: He asked Poland and the Polish Jews for forgiveness.

Explanation

By kneeling on 7 December 1970 in front of the Warsaw Ghetto Memorial, Chancellor Willy Brandt symbolically asked Poland and Polish Jews for forgiveness for German crimes in the Second World War. The gesture became a milestone of reconciliation politics.

The question in German, as it appears in the test

Was wollte Willy Brandt mit seinem Kniefall 1970 im ehemaligen jüdischen Ghetto in Warschau ausdrücken?

Er hat sich den ehemaligen Alliierten unterworfen.
Er bat Polen und die polnischen Juden um Vergebung.
Er zeigte seine Demut vor dem Warschauer Pakt.
Er sprach ein Gebet am Grab des Unbekannten Soldaten.

Last updated: November 2026

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What did Willy Brandt want to express by kneeling in the former Jewish ghetto in Warsaw in 1970?

Explanation

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