Katyń Crime

1 February 1943

German secret field police takes up the issue of the Katyń graves.

29 March 1943

Exhumation works headed by Wrocław’s Professor Gerhard Buhtz begin at Katyń.

13 April 1943

The German radio announces the discovery of collective graves of 10,000 Polish officers executed by the Soviet authorities in the forest.

15 April 1943

The TASS news agency conveys the position of the Soviet authorities denying the German accusations.

15 April 1943

The Polish Government-in-Exile asks the International Red Cross to send an independent expert committee to Katyń.

20 April 1943

The Polish Government in London asks the USSR to send a Soviet expert committee to Katyń.

21 April 1943

Pravda prints an article on “Hitler’s Polish Associates” accusing the London Government of cooperation with the Nazi authorities in the International Red Cross appointing an expert committee to investigate the Katyń issue.

26 April 1943

USSR breaks off diplomatic relations with the London Government.

8 May 1943

USSR publishes its consent for the formation of Polish armed forces to be independent of the London Government under the aegis of the Union of Polish Patriots.

30 May 1943

The international expert committee organized by the German side determines the date of execution of those murdered in Katyń in spring 1940.

1 September 1943

Red Army troops occupy Smolensk.

5 October 1943 - 10 January 1944

An NKVD/NKGB team set up to prepare the ground and “evidence” incriminating the Nazi side for the Katyń crime starts working at Katyń.

24 January 1944

A communiqué of the Soviet Special Commission chaired by Nikolai Burdenko stating that the Poles in Katyń were executed by the Germans is announced in public. The date of the death is determined for autumn 1941.