For many years Katyń has been a tool for Polish politicians to practice politics “on the Russian section”. It's a self-proclaimed, disgusting thing to do.
I compose it as a descendant of specified a victim. My grandfather, Jan, died in Kharkov at the NKVD execution center in 1940. His name is placed in the field cathedral and the Katyn Museum. It could never be accepted that this crime, especially after the full disclosure of it, after the construction of the Katyn War Cemetery, the adoption of the Duma and the tribute to the victims by Vladimir Putin in 2010, was inactive the subject of a political game. It was in Katyn that Donald Tusk practiced politics, gathering Russian leader in this cemetery. However, it was a policy of good religion at the time, due to the fact that it was based on a common leaning over history, designation of fact and setting a way for the future.
Let us remind you that it was then, on April 7, 2010, Vladimir Putin said: “Before these graves, before the people who came here to celebrate the memory of their loved ones, 1 could say: let us forget everything, but it would be two-faced. We are obliged to remember the past and we will do so, no substance how bitter the fact is.” Vladimir Putin noted that for decades the fact about the Katyn crime has been attempted to cover up, but it cannot be borne by the Russian people. He recalled that the assessment of this Stalinist crime had already been carried out and was not subject to any revision. The Russian Prime Minister stated that the past must not be forgotten, and that historical justice must be pursued. He added that this communicative cannot be written by anger and hatred and by political demand.
Donald Tusk and Vladimir Putin in Katyn (7.04.2010)
In Poland, these words were received without designation of their weight. A fewer days later, Lech Kaczyński intended to launch his presidential run in the Katyń Forest. This ended with a tragedy that alternatively of sobering the minds, became an excuse for a gigantic hatred run aimed at Russia. Not at once, due to the fact that respective days after the disaster, and after a wave of sympathy and regret from Russian society – Jarosław Kaczyński gave his message to the Russian people with the memorable words "Brothers Russians". Even a fewer weeks later, however, he accused Russia of bombing, burying the process of Polish-Russian reconciliation, which was born in pains.
Today Donald Tusk enters his shoes, who seems to have forgotten what policy he was conducting 15 years ago. Speaking on April 13, 2025, he plays again politically Katyn and memory of the victims. He says: “Today we cannot stay silent. The victim of 22,000 officers, sub-commissioners, Poles [I don't know why this politically correct bully, since only 1 female – Janina Lewandowska, daughter of gem Józef Dowbor-Muśnicki – JE), Poles, elite of the Polish nation, died in Katyn, and this victim is an highly important, shouting lesson not only of history, but of a lesson that we must perceive to with peculiar sensitivity today. True, that evil was overcome (...), but the evil that was the origin of this crime is inactive lurking around us.” During the speech he recalled a Russian attack on Sumy on Palm Sunday, in which at least 21 people were killed. "Russian rockets have fallen on praying men, women, children, men, and women who go to mass. A fewer hours ago. In the streets of the city are the corpses of those who died on that peculiar day in the same tragic death, due to the same evil. So pointless, without pity," said the Prime Minister. "This evil is inactive tangible. And as it has been for centuries, so present this evil threatens. It threatens our neighbours, threatens peace, threatens how we feel more and more powerfully all month, Poland and Europe. It's the same evil. Whether Sumy's Palm Sunday today, Buczy's tragedy, or government crimes with another leaders, in different historical periods, but this evil is twin-like," he added.
It was foreseeable that Tusk would mention to Ukraine on the occasion of the Katyn anniversary, even though it had no historical reference. This is done by all Polish politicians, who usage Ukrainian propaganda to advance all anniversary, whether September 17, Katyń or the Warsaw Uprising. Donald Tusk may have refrained from referring to Sum since we have conflicting information about this event. Even according to Ukrainian deputies, in Sumach was held in the city center a large handing of honours to Ukrainian soldiers, participants of operations in the Kursk Oblast. It is not the first time that the Ukrainian command exposes the civilian population to specified attacks, and this is erstwhile it organizes training of drone operators in theatres and hotels or gold with abroad mercenaries. Then you can cynically announce to the full planet that Russia is attacking hotels, theatres, hospitals, nurseries, and now “praying in church”. The repetition of Ukrainian propaganda on the anniversary commemorating the victims of the Katyn crime is morally reprehensible not to say disgusting. It's inactive a political dance on the graves. I already skip this, the Katyn celebrations on 13 April, and so on the anniversary of the message of the German Ministry of Propaganda led by Joseph Goebbels, are inappropriate. The corresponding date of celebration is 5 March – the day of issuing the order to shoot Polish officers.
In 2009, the late, unrepentant prof. Bogusław Wolniewicz, on the waves of Radio Maryja, stated:
"Any effort to reduce the unique horror of Katyn crime is in vain. This crime can't be reduced. It does not request to be labeled "genocide" or any another label, due to the fact that it is above all labels, it is sui generis. Let us just not detract from it by making it the subject of political tenders or even a title to any material claims. Russia recognized its guilt deeper than anyone could have expected; it besides agreed to have a cross stand at the scene. There was nothing else to do here, so what else do we want from them? Let's not turn national holiness into petty.
Let us not mix that case with the case on September 17, 1939. The Russians feel guilty about that, but they don't. Indeed, it was not the entry of their troops in Poland that determined the consequence of our fight against Germany. By mid-September, since France did not move, the consequence was already foregone, and present it is foolish to talk of a "cook in the back". The evil was not just that they stepped in, but how they behaved toward us later: from the vile speech of Molotov to the beginning, and on that terrible matter, on which his signature is besides represented. All these events must be kept in head in memory of our nation and further developed historically. However, there is no request to keep putting them under the Russians' nose. To remember is not the same as publically flaunting your regrets. Isn't that clear?’
As it turned out, not for everyone. Radio Maryja could not interrupt the live speech of Bogusław Wolniewicz, but he was on the radio from then on persona non grata. His statements did not want to print “Our Journal”, so with the approval of the Author, we published it in the pages of “Polish Thought”. Nothing's changed with us since. Behind the screen of concern for memory and identity lies unclean intentions and contempt for victims who are the object of dirty and cynical politics.
Jan Engelgard
Photo: Katyń Museum in Warsaw
