Greek justice minister, Nikos Paraskevopoulos has threatened to seize German assets to compensate the families of Greek victems of war crimes committed by Nazi forces during World War II.

Greek newspaper, Ekathimerini reports that he is "ready to sign an older court ruling that will enable the foreclosure of German assets in Greece in order to compensate the relatives of victims."

The claims relate specifically to the massacre of 218 Greeks in the village of Distomo in central Greece in 1944.

During a debate in the Greek parliament yesterday (March 10th), Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras backed the claims and stated Greece's intentions to seek reparations.

He noted that it is a "very technical and sensitive” issue - but said that that it is the government's duty to pursue the claim.

Mr Tsipras mentioned that Germany was given a deal on its debt in the fallout of WWII in 1953.

He added that, "The Greek government will strive to honor its commitments to the full" but also said that the government will, "strive to ensure all unfulfilled obligations toward Greece and the Greek people are fulfilled,” adding, "You cannot pick and choose on ethical issues."

The revisiting of the war is likely to be unpopular in German. Greek finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis has made numerous references to the Nazi Party in the German media and when dealing publicly with German officials.

Steffen Seibert, spokesman for German chancellor Angela Merkel has responded to the reparations suggest, he says:

"It is our firm belief that questions of reparations and compensation have been legally and politically resolved. We should concentrate on current issues and, hopefully, what will be a good future."