Posted on 04/07/2010 2:08:33 PM PDT by kronos77
MOSCOW — Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin on Wednesday became the first Russian or Soviet leader to join Polish officials in commemorating the anniversary of the murder of thousands of Polish officers by the Soviet Union at the beginning of World War II.
Mr. Putin cast the executions as one tragedy out of many wrought by what he called the Soviet Union’s “totalitarian regime.”
“We bow our heads to those who bravely met death here,” Mr. Putin said at a site in the Katyn forest close to the Russian city of Smolensk, where 70 years ago members of the Soviet secret police executed more than 20,000 Polish officers captured after the Soviet Army invaded Poland in 1939.
“In this ground lay Soviet citizens, burnt in the fire of the Stalinist repression of the 1930s; Polish officers, shot on secret orders; soldiers of the Red Army, executed by the Nazis.”
The circumstances surrounding the massacre have long been a major source of tension between Poland and Russia, and Wednesday’s tribute, held jointly with Donald Tusk, Poland’s prime minister, appears to be the latest step in an effort by both countries to patch up relations.
...
Last week, a government-owned television channel showed “Katyn,” an Oscar-nominated film by the Polish director, Andrzej Wajda, which portrays the massacre and the Soviet cover-up. The film had previously been screened only a few times in Russia.
Wednesday’s commemoration, held amid the birch and pine trees of the Katyn forest, was pregnant with symbolism and not a little irony. Russian state television showed Mr. Putin, a former K.G.B. officer, standing beside his Polish colleague as Russian Orthodox priests intoned prayers for the dead. Russian and Polish soldiers laid wreaths at the base of a towering red Orthodox cross.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Well-good for Putin. This was the right thing to do and long time coming, imo.
Good that it is being acknowledged, though I have to wonder at the ulterior motives.
Impressive. I never thought he’d do it.
What I think is hilarious is that he has warned the U.S. numerous times against going down the road to socialism.
What can you say when Putin is farther to the right than Obama?
It’s Putin’s version of going to Canossa. Both right and politic to mend fences with the Poles when they’ve gotten nothing from Obama but a knife in the back. Putin’s smart.
That we are through the looking glass.
God Bless the Polish soldiers who fought for their homeland. I hope your sons and daughters got to see Poland return to the Polish rule.
Good for you, Mr. Putin.
One of the troubling things about Putin has been his apparent unwillingness to disavow the Stalinist past.
So this is a good thing. Its also a smart thing, as someone else pointed out its also smart politics if, as our foreign policy drifts, he can draw a neighbor closer to the fold.
Last week, a government-owned television channel showed “Katyn,” an Oscar-nominated film by the Polish director, Andrzej Wajda, which portrays the massacre and the Soviet cover-up. The film had previously been screened only a few times in Russia.
This is what really surprises me, and makes me think the shift is sincere.
Stalin sent goodly numbers of Polish military to Siberia as slave labors. When the Germans attacked the Soviets, some of these (not all - slave labor camp leaders were responsible to meet their work quotas no matter what) were released to fight the Germans. There were, however, no officers. They were at Katyn.
Very impressive. He has political courage. unlike any Western leader.
Wow.
Stalin is making a comeback in Putin’s Russia:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2465784/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2481213/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2482425/posts
This was a step in the right direction for Putin. When was the last time we could say that for Obama?
Good for Putin - I certainly respect him more than someone running a country on this side of the planet. Putin appears to love his country...
Anyway, for anyone who wants to understand the HORROR of Stalinism - I suggest you read this book. It is UNREAL, but true (and no, I don’t have a financial interest):
http://www.amazon.com/Forsaken-American-Tragedy-Stalins-Russia/dp/1594201684
Be VERY weary of Commies bearing gifts.
Remember, this is the SAME Putin who said that it was illegal to enter Russia if you criticized the Soviet role in World War II.
There is an ulterior motive on Putin’s part for this.
Brilliant strategy, for something the Russians admitted 20 years ago!
““In this ground lay Soviet citizens, burnt in the fire of the Stalinist repression of the 1930s; Polish officers, shot on secret orders; soldiers of the Red Army, executed by the Nazis.” “
Meaning those were bad times, many innocent Ruskies died too...blah blah can we be friends again, blah, bad things happen, blah
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