German WWII Reparations to Greece Make NY Times Front Page

In an article entitled "As Germans Push Austerity, Greeks Press Nazi-Era Claims," the American newspaper relates the country's demands and Germany's intransigence in responding.

The article mentions a rising current that is being fueled by the bitterness of the past and the increasing displeasure among Greece against Germany's stance to enforce a harsh austerity on the country.

"Maybe some of us have not paid our taxes, but that is nothing compared to what they did," said Yannis Syngelakis as he and journalist Suzanne Daley toured the village of Amiras, Crete, where Nazi troops massacred his father and other villagers.

The journalist mentions that besides victims, the government has also prepared a relevant 80-page report that has been tendered to the state's legal council, adding that it is not certain whether it will be set before the German state.

A high ranking government official is quoted in the article as saying that it would be very difficult for Germany to loosen terms for Greece, and may perhaps opt to repay the forced wartime loan given by the quisling government as am easier pill for the German people to swallow.

So far, as the article mentions, Germany has not been willing to respond to wartime reparations.

The level of reparations is difficult to gauge, as the article notes, ranging between 220 and 677 billion US dollars.

The article notes that "translating that [the amount] into today's currency is difficult, and the question of how much interest should be assessed is subject to debate."