U.S. Ambassador Thomas A. Rose denounced the narrative that Poland shares responsibility for Nazi crimes during a Warsaw speech this week, claiming the country has faced historical injustice.
Speech at Warsaw Conference
Thomas A. Rose spoke at the annual conference of the International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists in Warsaw, addressing the portrayal of Poland’s history.
Stating Poland Has Been Unjustly Blamed
Rose said that for too long, Poland has been burdened with moral condemnation that was never its own, arguing that the charge that Poland shares guilt for crimes committed by others is unjust.
Accusing the Narrative of a “Historical Lie”
He described the belief that “Poland shares responsibility for barbaric acts against it” as a grotesque falsification of history and a form of “defamation of blood” aimed at Poles and Poland.
Critique of Poland’s Victim Portrayal
Rose warned that portraying Poland as a victim of other crimes is historically false and morally scandalous, comparing it to a perpetrator’s victim status, which has strained Poland‑Israel, Poland‑USA and Poland‑Jew relations.
Comments on Jews in Europe
Rose also raised the question of which European country is safest for Jews, stating that Poland is the most secure, calling it “you are the safest place”. He noted that some in the Jewish community see the U.S. president’s stance as protective of civil rights.
