Two Holocaust survivors and a former anti-Nazi resistance fighter have filed a lawsuit against a Polish publisher which they allege “promotes Nazism and Holocaust denial”.

The lawsuit against Gdansk-based firm Katmar focuses on a series of publications by Léon Degrelle, a Belgian Nazi collaborator, titled The Age of Hitler I, The Age of Hitler II and Hitler the Democrat.

Wojciech Kozlwski, representing the plaintiffs, told AFP: “The promotion of Nazism and Holocaust denial is a criminal offence in Poland, and in theory prosecutable in the criminal courts, but in practice public prosecutors fail to act effectively in the majority of cases.

“This is the first civil case of its kind ever brought in Poland.”

The lawsuit, filed on Friday in a Warsaw court under Articles 23 and 24 of the civil code, alleges that the Katmar publications violate the plaintiffs’ rights, including their dignity as persons who suffered under the Nazi German regime in occupied Poland.

The plaintiffs, who are all in their eighties, have declined to reveal their identities. They have demanded that Katmar stop selling and distributing Mr Degrelle’s books, and publish apologies in the Polish press.

They have also asked for Katmar to donate 40,000 zlotys, or £8,200, to charity, the Times of Israel reported.

Katmar has not responded to a request for comment made by AFP.