Feature
The Katyn massacre of Polish officers and...
to open their national archives to each other in September 2009. The announcement was timed to coincide with the anniversary of the start of World War II. This was certainly an important step in the right direction, but let’s not simplify the situation.Although many documents on the Katyn massacre have been published, the debate over Stalin’s true motives for executing the prisoners in February and March 1940 is far from settled. Why did Stalin suddenly put the issue before the Politburo for a formal go-ahead from his pocket government and order the execution when an earlier plan called for the prisoners to be transported deep within Russia and for some prisoners to be let go? Will the release of a few remaining documents withheld by the Military Prosecutor’s Office clarify the matter? Probably not, as the documents in question will not be found in the files of the Politburo or any other high government body.