Polish man sues Germany for 1944 injuries

GDANSK, Poland, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- A 69-year-old man in the Baltic city of Gdansk is suing Germany for injuries reportedly inflicted by Wermacht soldiers in occupied Poland in 1944.

Winicjusz Natoniewski filed a legal claim against Germany seeking $383,000 in damages for injuries he received during World War II when he was 6 years old in his native village of Lublewo, near Leby, in northeastern Poland, the Polish daily Fakt said Friday.

This is believed to be the first time that a Polish national has sued Germany and also first time that a foreign state has been being sued in Poland, the Serbian news agency Beta reported.

Beta quoted Polish international experts as saying Natoniewski has a good chance to win the case.

Natoniewski survived the massacre of 360 villagers in Lublewo in a German army reprisal against Poles who were helping resistance fighters.

German soldiers reportedly forced villagers into their homes and set them ablaze, Beta said.

Natoniewski suffered severe burns all over his body, including his head, and has been experiencing serious health problems.