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Europe's Wartime Memories Aggravate Resentment of Germany

Jamie Dettmer

   One of Germany's most experienced diplomats had to wait three months
   this year before Warsaw would approve his appointment as Berlin's
   ambassador to Poland.

   The official acceptance of an envoy by a host government is normally a
   formality, especially between allies -- as well as an event used to
   highlight neighborliness and friendship. But Arndt Freytag von
   Loringhoven, one of Germany's most experienced diplomats, hasn't
   received a warm welcome in the Polish capital.

   A begrudging Polish government on September 1 finally issued its
   acceptance of his selection. However, it could not resist referring
   once again to the cause of the delayed approval, noting that Poles
   remain sensitive to the "great unhealed wound" of World War II.

   The ostensible objection to the selection of Freytag von Loringhoven,
   NATO's first chief of intelligence and deputy head of Germany's foreign
   intelligence agency, as envoy was that his father was a German army
   officer who served in Adolf Hitler's entourage in the final weeks of
   the war.

   "What is strange for us is that Berlin didn't realize their pick could
   cause resentment," said a senior Polish official.

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