This tragic, cursed katyn
This is unbelievable — this tragic, cursed Katyn
Late President Lech Kaczynski’s predecessor, Aleksander Kwasniewski, on TVN24 television. Shown above: Lech Kaczynski (right) in his film debut in The Two Who Stole the Moon.
It’s always the small things that get me. Like the fallen presidential plane’s Polish national colours, visible through the Russian trees, or the estimated 250,000 metal coat buttons remaining in the ground after the massacre at Katyn. It was because of these buttons, or the people who wore them, that Late President Kacynski was travelling to Russia with his wife and 94 others on Saturday.
As for the actual buttons, Nazi investigators also found Polish money, medallions and other mementos, including family photos and postcards from home. These small items were all proof of the Soviet atrocity which Russia today acknowledges, but refuses to criticize.
Last week’s memorial for the Katyn massacre was an unprecedented public attempt at reconciliation by Russia and Poland. Late President Kaczynski was not invited (hence his private trip), as Prime Minister Putin asked his Polish counterpart, Donald Tusk, instead. According to Andrew Nagorski, director of the East/West Institute:
Four days before the fatal crash, Putin accompanied Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to Katyn and admitted Stalin’s responsibility for what happened—although he also tossed in a pseudo-justification by claiming the Soviet leader was avenging earlier mistreatment of Russian POWs by Poles in the two countries’ war of 1920.
This, Nagorski says, is just the kind of statement that causes the Poles’ continued resentment towards Russia.
The only positive outcome from yesterday’s plane crash might be an improvement in the relations between the two countries. Following the tragedy, the Russian public have left hundreds of red and white bouquets at the Polish Embassy in Moscow, while the government has allowed the victims’ relatives to enter Russia without visas, which can often take weeks. They’ve also offered counselling, translators and accommodation for the bereaved. Poland’s former foreign minister, Adam Rotfeld told the Wall Street Journal that change is definitely afoot:
The behaviour of Russia’s leaders and citizens demonstrates that there’s been real change. Many issues can be resolved on the wave of the empathy toward Poles. This may turn out to be a breakthrough.
We can only hope Rotfeld’s right, and that both countries can agree on what actually caused the crash, before the conspiracy theories really take hold.
To conclude: An Emmy-award-nominated public service announcement, in memory of the original victims of Katyn:
Katyn photos from All World Wars.
& if you’re wondering why a pop culture site is looking at twin tragedies in Poland, well, much like Community’s Danny Pudi, it’s in my blood.
