Posted on 11/25/2008 11:07:48 AM PST by lizol
Polish WWII leader's body exhumed
By Adam Easton BBC News, Warsaw
Prosecutors in Poland have exhumed the body of the country's World War II prime minister in an attempt to solve the mystery as to how he died.
General Wladyslaw Sikorski died in a plane crash in Gibraltar in 1943.
A British investigation ruled that it was an accident, but some historians in Poland believe Gen Sikorski died as a result of foul play.
Prosecutors say they are investigating a communist crime. Poland's president and PM are backing the current inquiry.
A small team of prosecutors, scientists and church officials took part in the opening of the general's marble tomb in Krakow cathedral, where it lay next to Polish monarchs and national heroes.
The general's coffin will now be taken from the 12th-Century crypt to the city university forensic laboratory, where his body will undergo DNA and pathological tests.
It will then be reinterred following a Mass service at the cathedral on Wednesday. The results of the tests are not expected for some weeks.
Theories
During the war the general was prime minister of the Polish government-in-exile in London.
In July 1943, the Liberator aircraft he was travelling on together with two British MPs, crashed into the sea just seconds after it took off from Gibraltar.
A British investigation at the time found the plane's controls had jammed. But a separate Polish investigation did not rule out he may been murdered.
The general's death has produced several colourful conspiracy theories despite a lack of evidence.
At the time Gen Sikorski had demanded an investigation into allegations that Poland's then ally, the former Soviet Union, had massacred more than 20,000 Polish officers in the forests of Katyn three years earlier.
Some even believe British Prime Minister Winston Churchill may have ordered
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
Death by NKVD.
The Soviets have clearly enjoyed killing Poles for some time now.It’s only due to the fact that Poland is now part of the EU that they won’t be invading Poland soon.But as their oil wealth,and thus military power,grows.....
I don’t get what they are looking for.
He was killed in a plane crash. I don’t think any poison no, matter how subtle, would cause an aircraft he’s a passenger on to crash.
Might be of GGG interest.
Hmm. New definition of “moot?”
They must have figured on a tough extraction...fixed bayonets.
The officer leading the coffin looks like a pretty tough guy!
I wonder why the two soldiers at the door were not at present arms when the general's coffin was carried out of the church?
Actually - this coffin is 15 years old.
In 1993 Gen. Sikorski’s body was brought to Poland from Great Britain.
> At the time Gen Sikorski had demanded an investigation into allegations that Poland’s then ally, the former Soviet Union, had massacred more than 20,000 Polish officers in the forests of Katyn three years earlier.
Since borne out.
Oops, and Thanks bamahead. [blush]
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