Polish war necropolis

Katyń – Miednoje – Charków

Description of places included in program

Bykownia – situated in 19^th quarter of forest on the edge of Kiev. This is a place where rests victims of Stalin’s repressions (included the Poles murdered an order of 5 March 1940) from the “Ukrainian list”. 24^th of June 2001 the Pope visited the cemetery and has been praying while the historical pilgrimage to Ukraine. In 2001 and 2006 the Council of Protection of Memory of Battle and Martyrdom has carried survey – exhumation works, and a result of that it was found 196 mass tombs included 20 polish last resting places. Works are going to be continued by polish scientists.

Charków – the city with over 1,5 million of citizens situated on the East of Ukraine, founded in the year 1655, situated by two rivers Łopiana and Nieczeta. It is a very important industrial, apprenticeship and cultural center. Here, in the seat of local NKVD in April and May 1940 the war prisoners from camp in Starobielsk lost their lives. on 17^th of May 2000 took place the opening of The Cemetery of Victims of Totalitarianism where in 15 mass graves rests 4200 officers of Polish Troop and in 60 smaller about 2800 people form Charków and places situated nearby
( Ukrainians, Russians, Jews and Poles), murdered by NKVD in years 1938 – 1941.

Katyń – Katyń wood, called Goat’s Mountains wilderness is situated on the both sides of the Dnieper River, on the 10 kilometer section from Gniezdowo to the Katyń village. At late 20s. located here the NKVD resort. On 4 or 5 of April 1940 started to execute polish war prisoners from camp in Kozielsk. In this place on the 28 July 2000 took place an opening of Polish War Cemetary where, in 6 mass tombs and 2 general’s rests 4412 officers of Polish Army.

Kiev – city situated on the hills on the right, high riverbank of Dnieper. In the past it used to be the central city of KIEVAN RUS′. The most famous and important monuments are: the Sophia council from XI century (built as a pattern of the Saint Sophia council in Constantinople), Lawra Paczerska, Golden Gate – the ruins of old defensive machines, now a Museum of Art of the East and West, Andriejew Orthodox Church from XVIII century, baroque Marian Palace.

Kozielsk – situated 250 kilometers on the south – east from Smolensk. Since September 1939 in post monastic buildings placed a camp where detained over 4,5 thousand of officers of Polish Army, who have been taking away by NKVD in train transports to Gniezdów near Katyń.

Kuropaty – holes of death situated in Green Lye, a district of Minsk. They were found in May 1990 by Minsk scouts. It’s a place of rest of victims of Stalin’s repressions between 1937 and 1941 (probably including Poles killed by his order from 5 March 1940).

Lviv – founded in XIII century. It used to be a birthplace of polish culture and a place of live
a lot of famous polish creators of science and culture. The most eminent monuments are: Latin, Greek – catholic and the ARMENIAN cathedral, cemeteries: Luczakowski, Lviv Eagles, Opera Theatre, Ballet and old town.

Miednoje - distant 30 kilometers to North from Twer. 2^nd of September 2000 there was
an opening of a Polish War Cemetery where in 25 mass graves rests 6300 prisoners from a camp
in Ostaszków (police, border guards, prison service, military police and espionage).

Ostaszków – situated about 250 kilometers north – west from Twer. In September 1939,
11 kilometers from Ostaszków, in old buildings which used to be a Niłow monastery on Stołbnyj Island, it was established one of the biggest camps for polish war prisoners. The beginning
of the liquidation started 4 of August 1940. Prisoners have been transported to Twer.

Smolensk – one of the oldest cities in Russia. The big number of monuments shows the length of the towns’ history. The oldest buildings are: Uspiensk, Peter’s and Paul’s ecumenical council and two monasteries Wozniesiensk and Troick. Ruins of the defensive walls show the past power of the city.

Starobielsk – situated by the Ajdar River, 230 kilometers from Charków. At the beginning
of October 1939 the nunnery was changed in the camp for war prisoners, where have been kept
4, 5 thousand of Polish Army officers. From 5 of August to the middle of May 1940 prisoners have been transported by train to Charków and killed. In 1994 took place the opening of Polish War Cemetery where are 48 mass tombs of murdered soldiers.

Twer – city at the mouth of the Twerca River. The first mention of the town comes from
year 1135. 6311 prisoners from Ostaszków were killed in the local NKVD building.

Vilnius – city by the Wilia River, famous thanks to beautiful churches, Gate of Dawn, the oldest and the most beautiful cemetery from 1769 situated on Rossa, Batory’s University
and Mountain of Tree Crosses.

Pilgrimage Charków and Katyń by train

Kiev – Charków – Starobielsk

Day 1. meeting at 8.30 p.m. next to the 1^st booking – office at Warsaw Central Railway Station. Departure from Poland through Dorohusk by train with sleeping places.

Day 2. passing the border. Drive through Kowel, Rowne, Szepietowka, Berdyszow, Kiev, Konotop, Sumy.

Day 3. Arrival to Charkow at about 9.30 a.m. coming to the hotel, check – in, breakfast. Visit and mass on Polish War Cemetery. Seeing Charków. Supper. It is possible to have a meeting with local Polish community abroad.

Day 4. Breakfast. Check – out from hotel. Travel to Starobielsk by coach. Visiting monastery and Polish War Cemetery. Going back to Charków. Supper. Going back to Poland at 11.00 p.m. by train with sleeping places.

Day 5. Travel through Ukraine to the border with change in Kiev.

Day 6. Arrival at railway station Warsaw Central at 6.00 a.m.

Pilgrimage to Katyń through Belarus by coach

Grodno – Baranowicze – Smolensk – Katyń – Pinsk

Day 1. Leaving from Lodz in the morning, travel through Bialystok with visiting Tykocin first. Arrival to the centre in the evening, check – in, accommodation for the night.

Day 2. After an early breakfast and checking – out travel to Grodno. Going to Baranowicze through Nowogrodek and Switez. Arriving to Baranowicze, check – in, accommodation for the night.

Day 3. After breakfast and checking – out travel through Minsk, Borysow, Orsza to Smolensk. Visit on the Polish War Cemetery in Katyń. Travel to hotel. Supper. Accommodation for the night.

Day 4. After breakfast and checking – out visit on the Cemetery in Katyń. Leaving to Belarus. Travel through Orsza, Borysow, Minsk. Arrival to Baranowicze, check – in, supper, accommodation for the night.

Day 5. After breakfast and checking – out travel on road Mir – Nieswiez – Kleck. Arrival to Pinsk, check – in, supper, accommodation for the night.

Day 6. After breakfast and checking – out short walk in Pinsk, travel to Poland. Arrival in Lodz in the evening.

Pilgrimage to Katyń by train

Smolensk – Katyń

Day 1. Meeting at 3.40 p.m. next to the 1^st booking – office at Railway Station Warsaw Central. Departure from Poland through Terespol/Brzesc by train with sleeping places.

Day 3. Arrival to Smolensk at 7.30 a.m. Breakfast. Travel to Katyń by coach. Visit and mass on the Polish War Cemetery. Seeing Gniezdowo. Return to Smolensk. Check – in. Meeting with local Poles. Supper. Travel and visit on the cemetery in the evening. Return to Poland by train at midnight.

Day 4. Arrival to Warsaw about 11.45 a.m.

Pilgrimage to Miednoje and Ostaszkow by train

Moscow – Twer – Miednoje – Ostaszkow

Day 1. Meeting at 3.45 p.m. next to the 1^st booking – office at Railway Station Warsaw Central. Departure from Poland through Terespol/Brzesc by train with sleeping places.

Day 2. Arrival to Moscow at about 12 o’clock a.m. travel by coach to Twer. Check – in in motel. Visiting Twer (NKVD building). Mass on the Polish War Cemetery in Miednoje. Supper. Accommodation for the night.

Day 3. Breakfast. Travel to Ostaszkow – visiting the monastery. Return to Twer through Miednoje (seeing cemetery). Supper. Accommodation to the night.

Day 4. After breakfast and checking – out from hotel travel to Moscow. Return to Poland by train at 7.20 p.m.

Day 5. arrival to Warsaw at railway station at about 11.45 a.m.