TIMELINE
24.03.1942 – “They won their lives” – Evacuation of the Anders’ Army
On 24 March 1942, the first stage of the evacuation of the soldiers serving in the so-called Anders Army from the Soviet Union to Persia began. About 78,000 exiles, who joined the Polish army and 37 thousand civilians, including about 18,000 Polish children were evacuated in total.
29.06.1940 – The third Soviet deportation
Helena Grodecka-Możdżeniowa, was one of about 90,000 victims of the third great deportation, which began on 29 June 1940. Most of those deported were refugees from the German occupation, mostly Jews. Poles accounted for about 11 per cent.
13.04.1940 – On the morning of 13 April
On the morning of 13 April 1940, NKVD soldiers came banging against the doors of the homes of more than 60,000 residents of eastern Poland. They ordered them to pack quickly and loaded them into cattle wagons.
3.04.1940 – The first “death transport” from Kozelsk
On April 3,1940, the first “death transport” of Polish prisoners of war set off from the Kozelsk camp.
4.02.1940 – Execution of the “Bloody Dwarf”
On 4 February 1940 (presumably!), Nikolai Yezhov, one of the cruellest perpetrators of Stalinist terror, was executed.
22.10.1939 – “Elections” in the Soviet Way
On 22 October 1939 the Soviets organised elections of delegates to the so-called people’s assemblies in the annexed Eastern Borderlands (Kresy) of the Second Polish Republic. After a rapid propaganda campaign accompanied by terror and violence, the “vote” took place.
