Germany plans to send 120 troops to neighboring Poland to help with flood relief efforts, including rebuilding infrastructure and cleaning up damage, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Thursday during a visit to the northwestern city of Szczecin.
The minister said Germany would send support at Poland’s request and that an advanced command would be deployed initially for eight weeks.
Poland is among the countries in Eastern and Central Europe that were hit by severe flooding earlier this month, with several towns in the south-west of the country completely destroyed.
Pistorius was in Szczecin on Thursday to celebrate the 24th anniversary of the NATO headquarters responsible for the alliance’s northeastern flank, which is led by German Lt. Gen. Jürgen-Joachim von Sandrart.
Last week, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said after a crisis management meeting in Wrocław that Germany was ready to send soldiers to provide support.
“So if you see German soldiers, please don’t panic. This is help. Just so there are no doubts,” Tusk said.
He was referring to the anti-German sentiment that remains widespread among parts of the Polish population, 85 years after Nazi Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, starting World War II.
