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"
The Soviet Union officially acknowledged that the NKVD had carried out the executions. NKVD officers shot victims individually in the back
The primary site of discovery and a major memorial. NKVD officers shot victims individually in the back
The Katyn massacre stands as one of the most chilling and consequential atrocities of the 20th century. What began as a secret execution of the Polish elite by the Soviet Union evolved into a decades-long saga of propaganda, denial, and a search for historical justice. The Execution: Spring 1940 NKVD officers shot victims individually in the back