Germany increasingly dismissive of Greek demand for €279bn in 'war debt'

Politicians, media and public hostile to call for reparations, seeing it as an obstacle to resolving debt issue, even if many acknowledge war crimes against Greece

Germany has become increasingly disparaging of Greece's demand for a278.7bn (202bn) in reparations for the Nazi occupation of the country during the second world war.

The country's vice-chancellor and economy minister, Sigmar Gabriel, who is also leader of the Social Democrats, dismissed the Greek demands, saying: "Honestly, I think it's stupid." He added that the issues of Greece's debts and Germany's war reparations were separate, and that such talk would not move forward negotiations "by one millimetre".

Related: Greece puts figure of a279bn on claim for German reparations