Katyn war cemetery memorial service

Memorial service of Katyn massacre

April 10, 2018

This post is dedicated to my lovely Polish-Canadian friend Anna

 (of Middleton, NS)

We were honoured when the Defence Attache Office of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland (in the Russian Federation) invited us to a ceremony at the Polish Military Cemetery in Katyn to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the Katyn Massacre. 

(excerpts of information from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katyn_war_cemetery &  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katyn_massacre)

In a small village 22 km from Smolensk, Russia (418 km from Moscow) is Katyn, where in 1940, 4412 Polish officers of the Kozelsk prisoner of war camp were murdered (called the Katyn massacre). All Polish officers murdered here were buried in 6 mass graves. Their names are marked on a large wall by the open-air church. 

In this complex there is also a Russian part of the cemetery where some 6500 victims of the Soviet Great Purges of the 1930's were buried. 

The Katyn massacre was a series of mass executions of Polish nationals carried out by the NKVD (Soviet secret police) in April and May 1940. Although the killings took place in several locations, the massacre is named after the Katyn forest where some of the mass graves were first discovered.  

Today, the complex is a peaceful 22 hectare forested area. When we first arrived and walked around that is what struck me, the peace and quiet. The only sounds were from birds. A sharp contrast to the horrific events of the past.

Following Soviet admittance of the crime in 1990, (previously they placed blame on the Nazis) the exhumation and archaeological works were resumed. In 1994, a bi-lateral treaty on war cemeteries and war memorials was concluded between Poland and Russia. This paved the way for the construction of a proper war cemetery in Katyn. It was opened to the public on 

July 28, 2000.

To add to this tragedy, on April 10, 2010, the Polish President, Lech Kaczynski, his wife and 94 other people including many of his top staff members (MP's and leaders of the military) died when the presidential plane went down about a half mile from the runway in the Russian city of Smolensk. The Polish delegation was on its way to take part in a ceremony there to commemorate the massacre of more than 20,000 members of Poland's elite 70 years before.

 

My handsome soldier in front of the new church located at the Katyn Memorial Complex

Just inside the entrance to the complex is a representation of on of the closed train wagons used to transport Polish prisoners

Arches separating the Russian and Polish burial grounds

 Craig thought these were perhaps the regiment symbols of some of the military members

Four religious symbols of (left to right): The Catholic cross, Jewish Star of David, Russian Orthodox cross and the Islamic moon and star symbol.

The Polish memorial wall with the names and some information about each person located in the 6 mass graves on the complex grounds.

The wall is quite massive. We were impressed by the size of each plaque dedicated to each of the victims. It is said this is the foundation for the open air church where the ceremony took place and the colour (rusting metal) represents dried blood spilled.

Craig didn't like that his shadow was over the Polish cemetery sign. I said it was appropriate because it's the shadow of an unknown soldier. I didn't realize he saluted after I had said that and I find this photo very symbolic and touching.

Unfortunately you cannot really read this sign, but it's a map of the complex.

One of the six Polish mass graves on the Polish side

A photo of the Polish wall of names through the forest

The Russian Orthodox cross on the Russian side of the complex

The Russian Orthodox Priest performing the ceremony on the Russian side of the complex

The diplomatic group waiting to pay their respects: From front left are the two Polish officers followed by Ambassador (Wojciech Zajaczkowski) and the Polish Consulate General (Joanna Strzelczyk in Smolensk - holding red candle). Other officers in attendance are from Canada, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovak Republic, Italy and a couple of other gentlemen (I do not know them or where they're from).

I'm not sure why, but the sharply contrasting red wall of the newly built museum on the Russian side of the complex seems too harsh to me. It just stands out too much maybe? I'm sure it is symbolic and was chosen for a reason.

 

I always tear up when soldiers salute.

The Polish service below. Although you can see snow, it was an absolutely gorgeous day. Sunny and about 18 degrees with a slight breeze.

The Polish Colonel is a wonderful man who provided us some history of the complex and let us know what was happening.

The Polish Ambassador giving the opening remarks (in Polish) followed by a Russian translator. Unfortunately none of the hour and a half long service was in English, but it was still a moving ceremony. It ended with eucharist (giving of bread and wine) and singing.

After the ceremony the diplomatic group and some others were invited for a wonderful lunch at a nearby restaurant and spa "Veranda". It was a lovely atmosphere here with good food. Thank you so much to our Polish hosts.

Driving directly back to Moscow after lunch we were lucky to see the Holy Assumption Cathedral located in Smolensk. It would have been nice to stop here, but there was no time as it was already a very long day. We left Moscow at 6 am and did not get back until 8 pm. Although I could have done without the long driving part, the ceremony and luncheon were wonderful and I am so glad we attended the event.