Katyn massacre: Difference between revisions
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The '''Katyn massacre''' is the name of a series of killings by the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] army during [[World War II]]. Members of the [[NKVD]] killed about 22,000 [[Poland|Polish]] [[prisoner of war|prisoners of war]], in a [[forest]] near [[Katyn]], about {{convert|20|km}} from [[Smolensk]]. Most of the prisoners killed were officers. The Katyn massacre happened in May 1940, and was ordered by [[Stalin]] himself on [[Lavrenty Beria|Beria]]'s recommendations. Between 4,000 and 5,000 people were killed in Katyn. It took until 1990 for the Soviet Union/Russia to say it was responsible. In 1990, [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] officially apologised. The Katyn massacre is one in a series of [[NKVD prisoner massacres|similar massacres]] where up to 100,000 people were killed. Between 400 and 450 prisoners survived. Using their stories, Soviet history books were rewritten after the apology. |
The '''Katyn massacre''' is the name of a series of killings by the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] army during [[World War II]]. Members of the [[NKVD]] killed about 22,000 [[Poland|Polish]] [[prisoner of war|prisoners of war]], in a [[forest]] near [[Katyn]], about {{convert|20|km}} from [[Smolensk]]. Most of the prisoners killed were officers. The Katyn massacre happened in May 1940, and was ordered by [[Stalin]] himself on [[Lavrenty Beria|Beria]]'s recommendations. Between 4,000 and 5,000 people were killed in Katyn. It took until 1990 for the Soviet Union/Russia to say it was responsible. In 1990, [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] officially apologised. The Katyn massacre is one in a series of [[NKVD prisoner massacres|similar massacres]] where up to 100,000 people were killed. Between 400 and 450 prisoners survived. Using their stories, Soviet history books were rewritten after the apology. |
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In the 1980s, Michail Gorbachev declared that Beria and [[Vsevolod Merkulov]] had been responsible, and that the Karyn massacre was one of Stalin's atrocities. Beria was accused of [[treason]], and [[Execution|executed]], in 1953. He had worked with the British in the 1920s. Merkulov was also executed |
In the 1980s, Michail Gorbachev declared that Beria and [[Vsevolod Merkulov]] had been responsible, and that the Karyn massacre was one of Stalin's atrocities. Beria was accused of [[treason]], and [[Execution|executed]], in 1953. He had worked with the British in the 1920s. Merkulov was also executed in 1953, for being close to Beria. |
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Neither Beria nor Merklulov were ever tried for what they had done at Katyn. |
Neither Beria nor Merklulov were ever tried for what they had done at Katyn. |
Revision as of 10:17, 3 July 2020
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/The_Katyn_Massacre%2C_1940_HU106212.jpg/220px-The_Katyn_Massacre%2C_1940_HU106212.jpg)
The Katyn massacre is the name of a series of killings by the Soviet army during World War II. Members of the NKVD killed about 22,000 Polish prisoners of war, in a forest near Katyn, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Smolensk. Most of the prisoners killed were officers. The Katyn massacre happened in May 1940, and was ordered by Stalin himself on Beria's recommendations. Between 4,000 and 5,000 people were killed in Katyn. It took until 1990 for the Soviet Union/Russia to say it was responsible. In 1990, Mikhail Gorbachev officially apologised. The Katyn massacre is one in a series of similar massacres where up to 100,000 people were killed. Between 400 and 450 prisoners survived. Using their stories, Soviet history books were rewritten after the apology.
In the 1980s, Michail Gorbachev declared that Beria and Vsevolod Merkulov had been responsible, and that the Karyn massacre was one of Stalin's atrocities. Beria was accused of treason, and executed, in 1953. He had worked with the British in the 1920s. Merkulov was also executed in 1953, for being close to Beria.
Neither Beria nor Merklulov were ever tried for what they had done at Katyn.