Nazi theft of Greek gold during the Second World War is to blame for the country's faltering finances, Athens claimed yesterday.
It came as new protests about the economy turned violent.
Greece said the real culprit for its problems were the Nazis, whose occupation lasted from 1941 to 1945.
Lashing out: Theodoros Pangalos, left, says Germany has no right to criticise Greece over its debt crisis when it's still suffering from Nazi occupation, while Angela Merkel has ignored appeals to help the debt-ridden nation
'They took away the Greek gold that was at the Bank of Greece, they took away the Greek money and they never gave it back,' said Deputy prime minister Theodoros Pangalos.
'I don't say they have to give back the money necessarily but they have at least to say "thanks".'
Germany had failed to offer enough compensation for the economic impact of the Nazi occupation, he added.
Germany swiftly rejected the accusation, saying it paid £50million in compensation by 1960 and more to forced labourers of the Nazi regime.
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