Kharkov Memorial Ceremony
Pictures and comments kindly sent to me by a Polish patriot who attended the service held on 27 June 1998 at Kharkov, in memory of the Polish personnel murdered by the UNKVD [Soviet Ukrainian NKVD] in April/May 1940 on Stalin's orders as part of what is usually known as the Katyn Forest Massacre.
"The mass murder of the 3920 Polish officers held in Starobielsk was conducted under the supervision of the regional command of the NKVD in Kharkov, Ukraine. As indicated by the very precise location of bullets a part of the victims [sic] was killed inside execution chambers in Kharkov while the rest were murdered at the grave site at Piatikhatki. Multiple wounds were inflicted at the grave site. Many skulls were penetrated by several bullets. Some had bullet wounds in the legs and other parts of the body as a result of a last minute struggle. The graves at Piatikhatki appear to have been dug and later covered by hand. If and when the exhumations will be completed the final forensic report will be prepared.
The 68th Ukrainian infantry regiment provided escort guards for the execution of Polish prisoners held in the camp of Starobielsk. Men murdered in the Kharkov prison and at the grave site were buried near the village of Piatikhatki. Today, the mass graves of Polish officers are within the 6th quadrant of parks and woods encircling the city of Kharkov, some 8 kilometers from the center."
"The murderers of Katyn", Vladimir Abarinov, Hippocrene Books Inc, New York, 1993. ISBN 0-7818-0032-3. p374 {This book is an English translation of Abrinov's Russian language book "Katynskii labirint"]
Departure from Olkusz, Poland [near Krakow] for Kharkov on the afternoon of 25 June, 1998.
The train trip was sponsored by the Polish government.
Other than dignitairies, only a limited number of people from various countries were invitied who were relatives of the murdered victims.
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A Polish Honour guard near the altar.
Note that the Ukrainian and Polish flags fly side by side. A compromize was reached between the Poles and the Ukrainians to have ajoined memorial service and dedication on the grounds that not only 4000 Polish officers were buried at the cemetery, but also over 2000 Ukrainians and other Soviet victims of the NKVD.
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A multi-denominational service was held on the afternoon of 27 June, 1998.
One of the 15 mass grave sites close to the altar where the service was held.
Another mass grave site.
Speeches after the service.
Ukrainian and Polish Honour Guard near the altar.
Dedication of the cornerstone.
A procession of Katyn Families organizations, after the service along the route past all 15 mass graves.
Major Stefan Tomaszewski.
"The graves found in Kharkov forest park were in a much worse condition [than those exhumed at the same time, 1991, at Mednoye] and consisted of a mess of human bones from which it was seldom possible to put together a whole skeleton. Yet, there can be no doubt as to the nationality of the victims on account of the numerous metal objects- buckles, buttons, and coins- found among the bones. The method of killing [shots in the head] is identical to that used in Katyn."
"The murderers of Katyn", Vladimir Abarinov, Hippocrene Books Inc, New York, 1993. ISBN 0-7818-0032-3. p329 [This book is an English translation of Abrinov's Russian language book "Katynskii labirint"]
A pilgrim searching for his father's grave someplace under hundreds of Polish flags, and taking a clump of earth to take "home" with him for "honourable burial".