Summary: Short polemical film examining the evidence for the Katyn massacre, in which 1500 Polish prisoners were executed in the forest of Katyn near Smolensk. It studies evidence from two documentary films, one German and one Russian, which were taken "at the scene of the crime".
Description: After a brief summary of the German and Russian invasions of Poland in 1939, and the transfer of Polish military prisoners to camps in the Soviet Union. The loss of all contact with 1500 Polish soldiers was noted in 1940, and on April 13 1943 their remains wer found in the Katyn Forest. The Germans, now at war with Russia, made a propaganda film "Im Wald von Katyn" showing the exhumation, inspection and reburial of the soldiers. Scenes of other Russian mass grave sites in the Ukraine are also shown.
After the Russians reoccupied the Smolensk area, they produced their own film about the massacre, exhuming the bodies again (from their new grave). The Red Cross were not allowed to visit but an international delegation (including Americans) did, and they hear a Russian account of the atrocity, blaming the Germans. All evidence pointed to the Soviets. The evidence was examined at Nuremberg but no action was taken. In 1952, a US Congress Commission pointed clearly towards Soviet guilt, but no further action was taken. Narrator notes that "the Polish people are still awaiting justice".
Alternative Title:
Colour:B&W
Digitised:No
Object_Number:MGH 3625
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:
Featured Period:
Production Date:1955
Production Country: Poland
Production Details: Polish Organisation of Former Soviet Political Prisoners (Production sponsor)
Lipinski, S (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords:
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Technical Details: Format: 16mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 892 ft; Running time: 24 mins
