Katyn Massacre

The Katyn Massacre was a tragic event in 1940 when Soviet secret police executed around 22,000 Polish military officers, intellectuals, and prisoners of war. They were killed in forests near Katyn and other locations, aiming to eliminate Poland's leadership. The Soviet Union initially blamed Nazi Germany, but evidence later confirmed Soviet responsibility. The massacre highlighted the brutality of Soviet repression and remains a sensitive historical issue, symbolizing the suffering of many innocent Poles during World War II.