W cieniu wielkiej polityki. Londyńskie dzieje pomnika katyńskiego 1971 – 1976

Bogusław Polak , Michał Polak
Saeculum Christianum. Historical Writings
Section: Rozprawy i Artykuły
https://doi.org/10.21697/sc.2021.28.1.16

Abstract

The complicated history of the construction and unveiling of the Katyn 1940 memorial in Gunnersbury Cemetery is still thought-provoking on the policy paradigms of the superpowers on both sides of the then Iron Curtain. The main aim of this article is to analyse - on the basis of the obtained sources and studies - the fate of this monument, reflecting in a historical mirror one of the paramount Soviet lies of the 20th century and at the same time showing the difficult conditions for the functioning of Polish political emigration in Great Britain in the second half of the 20th century. At all costs British politicians tried to prevent the conflict with the Soviet Union from escalating. Activities of Poles in Great Britain that aimed at commemorating the Katyn massacre were not to the liking of the British government. The final success of this initiative should be credited to the determination of Polish refugees.

Keywords:

Great Britain, political exile, Katyn memorial, Katyn massacre, cemetery

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Polak, B. ., & Polak, M. (2021). W cieniu wielkiej polityki. Londyńskie dzieje pomnika katyńskiego 1971 – 1976 . Saeculum Christianum. Historical Writings, 28(1), 221–232. https://doi.org/10.21697/sc.2021.28.1.16

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