Katyn Apr 2026

Locations of other mass burial sites discovered later.

Despite evidence of Soviet guilt, the U.S. and UK largely avoided the issue during the war to maintain their alliance with Stalin against Hitler. Locations of other mass burial sites discovered later

The USSR immediately blamed the Nazis for the killings, claiming the Poles were executed during the German advance in 1941. 000 Polish nationals

NKVD officers shot victims individually in the back of the head, often using German-made Walther pistols to potentially deflect future blame. Discovery and the "Big Lie" including approximately 4

The primary site of discovery and a major memorial.

Roughly 22,000 Polish nationals, including approximately 4,500 officers found in Katyn forest.