Eastern European Laws on World War II History Spark Congressional Reaction

What countries in Eastern Europe might have once assumed were domestic debates over World War II history are spilling over into major international disputes and causing problems for their relations with the United States.

Last month, more than 50 members of Congress sent a letter to the State Department that expressed concerns about “state-sponsored Holocaust distortion and denial.” The lawmakers note that both Poland and Ukraine recently passed laws relating to World War II history and claim these are connected to rising incidents of anti-Semitism.

The April 23 letter has drawn ire and sparked debate in Poland, Ukraine, and certain academic and political circles in the United States.