Chronology of World War II
Tuesday, March 5th
Katyn Massacre
Also known as the ‘Katyn Forest Massacre,’ this mass execution ordered by the Soviet Politburo on March 5, 1940 was carried out by the secret police against Polish military officers, civilian prisoners, and members of the Polish Officer Corps. Approved by Joseph Stalin, it was estimated that about 22,000 were executed in Katyn Forest.