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Old 8th March 2005, 01:24
Franek Grabowski Franek Grabowski is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Warsaw, Poland
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Franek Grabowski is on a distinguished road
65 anniversary of Katyn massacre

A few days ago 65 years passed since Soviet government signed order to execute Polish POWs. In the effect 20,000+ Polish officers and policemen were murdered, most if not all receiving a shot into the back of head.
Among them were aviators, a few of them for example. Zbigniew Franciszek Szubert of III/6 Dyon was a fighter pilot, downed and wounded was captured by Soviets. Janina Lewandowska, daughter of gen. Dowbor-Muśnicki, was a liason pilot on an unarmed training aircraft, taken POW she was handed over to Soviets by Germans. Zygmunt Babiński in 1920 almost alone stopped Budenny's cavalry, straffing it in a Bristol Fighter. Between the wars he was a well known sport flyer.
Part of mass graves were uncovered by Germans in 1943. After Polish request to Red Cross to investigate, Soviet Union single handedly broke relations with Polish government. Post war a few German POWs were trialed and executed by Soviets 'for murdering Polish POWs'.
So called Katyn massacre was surrounded by lies, not only Soviet (which is at least understandable) but also by Western powers, afraid of spoiling good relations with Moscow.
Now, on the anniversary, Putin announced that all proceedings concerning investigation of the crime are stopped and that Russia will not hand over the files as they are secret. At the very same time European Parliament refused to commemorate murdered officers, which are only a symbol of Soviet repressions. EP already commemorated Auschwitz Camp victims as well as those kille din Madrid bomb attack a year ago.